NeverarGreat said:
R2-D2 saved the Queen's starship in Episode 1. Without Artoo, the ship would have been destroyed, and the Jedi killed, as well as the queen. Nute Gunray is successfully prosecuted for invading Naboo and killing the queen. Qui-Gon and Obi-wan would never have stopped on Tatooine to find Anakin, and so Anakin would never have become a Jedi, nor would he have become a Sith. A new leader of Naboo would have been elected, and as Jar-Jar had been killed as well, he wouldn't have called for emergency powers for the Chancellor, even if the Trade Federation had remained intact after that fiasco. In short, if Artoo had never existed, the Empire would never have been formed.
"I don't know what all the trouble is about, but I'm sure it must be your fault."
Anakin's force abilities would have increased as he grew up, and with only Watto as a role model, insured the Toydarian's rise to power, overthrowing the Hutts, and owning the largest pizza franchise in the Outer Rim.
After Watto's sudden death in a suspicious pizza oven accident, Anakin had no one to reign him in. (His mother had died years before in a tragic accident in a Tusken Raider S&M parlor. Always remember your safe word kids!) He once force choked a man in a cantina just for snoring.
Pod Racing became a blood sport when Anakin competed. He teamed up with Sebulba to terrorize the competition, before a financial dispute ended with the Dug's head nailed to a vaporator.
After years of suffering in silence, (mostly because Anakin had ripped out his vocabulator) Threepio finally overcame his programming. When Anakin fell asleep after yet another spice fueled party, the protocol droid slipped a thermal detonator under his pillow, and kissed the maker on the cheek.
If only a plucky little astro droid had entered their lives!