I love your take on Anakin’s value as being good in the clutch (US sporting metaphor is so colourful!), but I think you’ve mis-tallied some of his actions. Letting the Millenium Falcon escape is only a mark against him if you assume he really is on the side of the Empire. But we can see Vader not as fully committed to the Empire, but rather venting his pain through his job. Like the tired bureaucrat who turns a blind eye once in a while, Vader doesn’t really want to capture Luke (whom he obviously loves dearly as the last remaining symbol of his love for Padme, Leia not withstanding) but he cannot see any way that he can get his son back other than converting him to the dark side. And he’s right, of course, because Vader lacks the luxury of defecting to the other side. After all, would you accept a renegade Vader into your organisation?

“Let me see, Mr. Vader is it?”
*Heavy breathing* “*Darth* Vader.”
“Darth… yes… Well I see from your resume that you were responsible for the fall of the Republic and the murder of hundreds of innocent jedi. I’m not entirely certain you’re right for the position of Walmart store manager.”

Ah, the opportunity to engage in a little harmless geekery. I usually don’t indulge, but it’s a special time of the year for me.