The Gungan Shield was meant to be grand, or should have been. It is an unexplored possibility in the Star Wars franchise that could have been monumental. Could you imagine a Jedi knight not only wielding a lightsaber but then standing tall with a shield for defense. The defensive dance could have become a Roman Shield wall. 

The gungan Shield was proven to be effective against blaster bolts, being able to deflect them with ease making even the dumbest gungan stronger than a battle Droid. Jedi knights could have resembled medieval knights and fought more effectively against the sith.