I just saw a video stating that Krennic was originally supposed to die by Vader’s hands and I’m so glad they didn’t go down that route as Krennic being turned into star dust is the only death a man like that deserves.
Going in I was sure that’s how it would play out. Having him get clipped on the catwalk by the Death Star’s superlaser before it hits the planet does have a nice irony that death-by-Vader would have lacked.
Tarkin didn’t even care that he was on the planet. All that work and Krennic was trash to people like Tarkin and Vader. Much better than him getting choked.