Tony's questions about Star Wars

So, I picked up the umpteenth version of Star Wars on dvd a few weeks back because Best Buy had the latest two-disk version that has both the fancified 1997 version and the original 1977 theatrical print for sale...cheap! When the newest 2 diskers came out I wasn't going to buy them all again after having bought the Trilogy when it came to dvd a couple years back (even though it bugged me that it was only the new, sluttier version), but at about 6 bucks, I couldn't pass up buying Star Wars again (it was the only one at that price). I am happy to see that the film looks it's age. The sound crackles a little and the picture isn't perfect and that, G.L., is absolutely fucking fine! Han shoots Greedo and Greedo never even fires a single shot! No garish Mos Eisly! Wonderful, I say!

While watching a bit today some questions came up that I'd never considered before. Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

1. Why does Leia need Ben in the first place? He didn't own a spaceship. He was old. All she needed to do was get her ass to the Rebel base, so why stop off for a visit?

2. When did they dry off from being in the garbage chute? Luke got soaked under water and comes out fresh as a daisy.

3. Why did Ben think that his death would help Luke in the long run? Lets forget G.L.'s bullshit quasi explanation in his last abortion of a Star Wars film about Jedi coming back, somehow, in ghostly form (which, by the way, is elaborated on in the novel - I only cracked open the end of the book just to see if anything made the ending any clearer - but it's still crap), but what does his death accomplish?

4. Why didn't the damn Death Star just blow up Yavin to get to the hidden Rebel base? It does blow up planets, dunnit?

My head hurts.