So what might have been Elan's super secret plan?

[Peelee]

nope

Yep.

Lee Van Cleef's Confederate character died in GBU.

Yes, he did. Again, that was a different character.

Thanks for sharing why you think otherwise.

It'syou who thinks otherwise. You're free to think it's not a prequel, but you're wrong to think that anyone who disagrees is the odd one out here.