RoccondilRinon said:
There's also the fact that much of the plot of the OT is technologically-driven, namely the Death Stars, and that in general war accelerates technological development.
This is EXACTLY how I see it. The panache and beauty of the galaxy deteriorates as the Empire builds up an invincible war machine. I can only imagine that Coruscant would look quite different from Episode III (read: more militaristic) if it was seen in the later episodes... I mean, apart from the celebration at the end of RotJ.