Yeah, but who really needs to actually obliterate a planet in an uncontrolled matter like that?
Well, the Empire, apparently.
Yeah, but who really needs to actually obliterate a planet in an uncontrolled matter like that?
Well, the Empire, apparently.
With respect, no. There's nothing in the movies that really suggests this was a need.
A want? Of a person who is pretty much defined to be Evil? Yes. But did the Empire need that as a whole? Goodness no! They could have wiped the civilization off the face of Alderaan with the other hardware at hand, without that massive expenditure. The Death Star was, pretty clearly, a really a bad move for the Empire. The construction of the Death Star focused the Rebellion to the point of being effective, and roping in the only individuals who could precipitate the destruction of the Empire (Luke and Leia).
This is one of the reasons Star Wars is often classed as "science fantasy".
Now, if you want to reframe it so it works as actual science fiction. It was not a person or people who needed the planet destroyed. It was, instead, a reaction of the Force to maintain a sort of homeostasis in the galaxy. To analogize - the Galaxy ran a bit of a fever for a while.
Fear will keep the local systems in line. It was designed as a weapon of terror. Utility wasn't it's purpose; psychology was.
Or, that's the party line rationalization, anyway. I don't think I believe it. It makes a great fantasy, but the Death Star makes no actual strategic sense.
Nobody ever says the Empire got everything right. They lost the war, remember?