Is there an in universe (so I’m not talking about emulating Dam Busters) reason for the trenches on the Death Star? I was thinking about it and I realized the trench was a bigger flaw in design than the Exhaust Port. The Exhaust Port was a known factor. Darth Vader knew about it, it was ray shielded, the whole shebang.

But WHY is there a trench leading straight to it that enables your enemy to remain hidden from most of the blaster fire and possibly even hidden from view of the fighters defending the ship?

The only answer I’ve come up with is that the trench is part of a Giant radiator needed to expel heat from the Death Star.