Star Wars: A New Hope Question

Good question.

I was born in '78 and grew up with the OT and was in college when the PT was released. I know a lot about the movies - except for the ST abomination that I will never watch again - but little about the Expanded Universe.

My answer to the question would be that in ANH Vader was more of an enforcer (The Emperor's muscle) and Tarkin was in charge of the Death Star. After the death of Tarkin and the success of ANH, Vader's role expanded.

At that point (the events of Star Wars) - Tarkin was sort of like the Japanese Shogun - the military commander for the Emperor's forces, which includes Vader in that role. Vader is clearly functioning as the Emperor's troubleshooter/IG, what have you, but is subordinate to Tarkin in the field.

By Empire (Tarkin was killed at the Battle of Yavin), Vader had consolidated all that power to himself, although the Emperor was more directly involved with day to day events then.

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and the prequels were too 1990's. 

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They were very 2000s if I recall correctly

He respected Tarkin, and also Tarkin was put in charge of the Death Star..and not needing to prove his point any further..perhaps he wanted the men to respect Tarkin's command while on it.

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Since there are a lot of parallels between the Empire and Nazi Germany,

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I always wondered why so many were suprised he was his father

Tarkin was the Death Star commanding officer. Vader didn’t have to listen to him but chose to in order to maintain protocol.

I think this is another example of how the shitty prequels weren't really thought out.

In the scene you reference, Tarkin announces the Emperor has dissolved the Senate and region Gov would have control. I always assumed the others in the conference room where top military people and when they were wiped out Vader got more comntrol

you're reading into Vader's response to Tarkin. It's not as if Vader wanted to kill the guy. Vader proved his point. That's why he let go. If Vader had wanted to choke longer, he absolutely would have.

Well, Tarkin was killed so that alone could explain it. But, realistically, I don't think Lucas had even thought of the emperor character at the time.

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A lot of the background hadn't been solidified yet, the Emperor at this point was more figurehead with the Military in control. Once it was a smash success they dropped it and ran with the Emperor being the Empire.

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Truth.

I got the paperback novelization of Star Wars before Empire came out.
I remember reading (prologue maybe) exactly that- the Emperor was a powerless figurehead puppet controlled by the military.
Of course, this was back when Luke was the hero who got the girl (Leia), with the help of his pirate friend (Han). All of that went out the window with ESB.

Many things changed, and not for the better, as the story progressed.
Personally, I never cared for the extended family angle. I didn't like the Clone Wars referring to using clones on the good-guy side (seems like an odd way to name a conflict). Would have greatly preferred a Bladerunner or current Westworld type of conflict, but with clones instead of androids.
And don't get me started on the dumb battle droids. If you're going that angle, make them Terminator-like.

Always thought it dumb that Anakin would make Threepio and be besties with Artoo, and yet as Vader never connect the dots regarding either of those droids.
After watching the prequels (and Clone War series), seems like a whole lot of grief could have been avoided if they simply sent Artoo to Vader...