Interesting, I wish that scene made it in, and I can’t detract the criticism based on deleted material, as the issue is still prevalent in the film nonetheless.
You mention a good point with Vader, I suppose the dynamic between him and the Emperor just doesn’t really jive well with what he was doing in the previous films. It makes more sense that he’s sulking around, there’s just something off about it. I’ll have to ponder some more as to why that is.