Yep palpatine being the buffoon that out-maneuvered the entire galaxy fails to deploy the best troops he has to recover the stolen plans of his key secret super weapon even after their general location has been identified. Lets the grunts fail the recovery instead.
After said super weapon is destroyed palpatine again guards the shield which guards the under construction death star II with similar grunts. Knowing full well the same rebels who attacked the first station will be attacking the second one.
Etc, etc, etc
Meanwhile Vader rolls with regular stormtroopers and palpatine rolls with royal guards. You know, while the death troopers are off by themselves handling the IMPORTANT stuff. The stuff that isn't in any of the movies and not even important enough to mention in passing. Know why? Because death troopers didn't exist in the OT. Sometimes you EU guys are too much.