re: What would have happened if Han & Chewie had killed Vader in Episode 4?

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Luke would not have become a Jedi (or maybe became palpatines student). Palpatine would wreck shite and further consolidated power unopposed.

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I thought about this, but the attack on the second Death Star and its destruction happened completely independent of Luke infiltrating and defeating the Emperor.

You could argue the butterfly effect that a different fleet commander other than Vader would have had a more effective attack on Hoth and would have crushed the rebels there. Or that Luke not becoming a Jedi Master by not realizing his lineage would have changed Han's rescue and the attack on the imperial shield generator on Endor wouldn't have been successful.