Covering the evidence...

Lukes binoculars are in bad shape because they are poor farmers on a backwater planet.

Maul had all Palpys money to use so his were much better.

It may still be that the tech of the OT ordinary peoples are much less than that of the Imperials for the reasons in my statement above.

😮‍💨

But the difference is that Sidious channeled all of his resources into one ship and one apprentice pre TPM, when he was emperor he had to sustain billions of officers and millions of ships. Hence, Needa would not have gotten their hands on a cloaking device.

I think the whole point with the technology was that it WAS supposed to be old and outdated..GL has stated many times that the Prequels show a more advanced, elegant time.

Certainly more of a Craftsman's age.

Meanwhile, then, is our assumption that Palpatine managed to cover up absolutely everything? Quite some job. It's keeping the Neimodians silent that is still the hardest part.

Well, that seems like it. I'm just guessing here, but if Palpy is half the man we make him to be it doesn't seem to be too big of a job. He controls the way they are judged and the Neimodians wet their pants in fear for Sidious.