They destroyed a planet that attacked the Empire, much like nuclear bombs, that was a deterrent that kept other planets from joining the same power-grab AllTheWrong planet/monarchy was supporting and prolonging the war.
Republic would have enslaved & bombarded the shit out of it, then had years of ground assault campaigns - that is so much more financially lucrative.
Bro the Empire blew up a planet for a test demo
They destroyed a planet that attacked the Empire, much like nuclear bombs, that was a deterrent that kept other planets from joining the same power-grab AllTheWrong planet/monarchy was supporting and prolonging the war.
Republic would have enslaved & bombarded the shit out of it, then had years of ground assault campaigns - that is so much more financially lucrative.
That was clearly a mining accident. Don’t let jedi propaganda fool you.
How else could they test a weapon capable of destroying planets? That act was part of a scientific research!