I will agree that Tatooine is "under" the Empire as it exists in the galaxy they rule the same as Alderaan is, though I see that and being in control of a planet as seperate things.

I'll correct myself on saying "far from the reach of the Empire" that's obviously not the case, but too far for them to give a crap about. But who cares right it's just my interpretation.

Maybe the citizens of Mos Eisley should have been celebrating the death of Jabba as he probably extorted the shit out of them. Either way this conversation is getting way to nerdy for my tastes.