brash_stryker said:
I don't really see how that in particular is a weakness in the writing. It shows that Luke has become a very perceptive, powerful Jedi. The Emperor is arrogant enough to think his apprentice won't turn against him, which of course turns out to not be true.

I see it as far more silly that there'd be a shaft there which clearly has no purpose (it certainly wouldn't be there for aesthetic reasons if it were covered with floor plates)

Can't see it as being for venting anything either. Why would the emperor choose to have it vent under his own chamber floor?

The only reason I can see for the shaft to be there is for the Emperor's own arrogant observations. Those on the dark side clearly value power above all else. Having a view into the reactor from his own chamber is exactly the kind of thing he'd do in my opinion.

A few things to think of:

(1) Emperor draws power from the reactor and/or lifeforms. Tower is center of laser array, so whenever its fired, he gets a rush from the destruction of lots of people (through the force) and the actual firing. It would also imply that when shooting Luke with lightning, he is not just frying him, but sucking his lifeforce out as well.

(2) if there are to be plates, when Luke wigs out on Vader have him rip the plates off and pelt Vader as he wails on him with his lightsaber.

As far as having an open shaft to the reactor below so he can look down and see it... well its not like his tower is a revolving resturant or something. If he wanted to bask in reactor goodness, wouldn't his chair be right above the shaft elevator, so he can drink a smoothie and look down that deep, long shaft all day long? Kinda hard to look down it if your chair is about 40 to 50 feet away.

Also, considering how high up the tower is as well as how deep the shaft has to go down to reach the reactor, wouldn't it have taken Palpy about a day to fall down and hit that thing? Not to mention, if you can force lift an X-wing, you can force lift yourself.