Re "Emperor as cackling sorcerer". I agree this is why I love him as a character. Star Wars was never meant to be subtle, Lucas set out to play with our ingrained cultural tropes (Deviating from this is partly why the PT struggled). For example...

Han's look isn't inspired by the cowboy look, it is the cowboy look! You could wear Hans costume in an authentic western and you wouldn't bat an eye.

Leia is dressed as a medieval princess. Same costume as an english princess from a forties swashbuckler.

Stormtroopers are wearing medieval Knight armour sprayed white. Spray it silver and helmetless stormtroopers would make fine extras in any arthurian movie.

Obi-Wan is dressed as a scruffy Ronin. That costume would be fine in any Jidaigeki film that Toho studios made.

Vader is the black knight of legend in armour and cloak with the addition of a helmet based on German WWII stormtroopers.

The Empire look and act like Nazis.

The dogfighting is straight out of WWII films like 663 squadron and of course the trench run is the dambusters.

These are all genres and styles that evoke instant reactions and instant understanding from us all. So like I say Star Wars works BECAUSE it's totally unsubtle!

Maybe why the Podracing was the only bit of TPM that absolutely nailed the fun of starwars. It's flying race cars simple and easy to understand.