For me, this is something I am not a fan of and I think the show honestly handled better than the EU. The idea that Vader is a known public entity, honestly I found stupid. Vader should only be known to the top brass and generals on either side. I saw some comic where the Empire was literally putting him as a public propaganda face in holograms and such. I just don’t think it makes sense. He’s a hand of the Emperor who handles special assignments. Not just an Imperial. I think at the very most, he’d be in whispers of fearful soldiers who might have heard horror stories of a black armored, red lightsaber wielding wizard. To me that is more powerful than the Empire parading him around.
But, I know a lot of EU fans prefer that depiction, so hey, more power to them
Why is it stupid for Vader to be well-known? Scaring people into submission has always been the Empire’s tactic
I think the idea of Force users being front and center in any capacity during the reign of the Empire doesn’t make sense. Han Solo didn’t even believe in the force during “Star Wars”. There were many more Jedi than Sith, and even they were scrubbed so badly the universe has forgotten about them. Someone like Vader wouldn’t be in the public sphere. He’s a Jedi hunter and right hand to the Emperor, an enforcer for special tasks. Like I said, the idea that he would be a frightening rumor is much more powerful.
Seeing him in public holograms and propaganda? It’s outright cheesy. An obvious expanded universe concept, like Palpatine making a bunch of clones of himself.
The EU has its strengths, and it has its clear weaknesses.