10 Star Wars "Plot-Holes" That Really Aren't
9. Why Did Obi-Wan Call Himself 'Old Ben?'
The Plot-Hole:
Why did Obi-Wan Kenobi, while in hiding, use such obvious misdirection as ‘Old Ben Kenobi?’ Also, why hide Luke on Tatooine? Vader is not only native to the planet, but personally met the two people to whom Obi-Wan entrusted Luke.
But...
The usual defence is that Vader did not know that his children were alive. While elegant, this theory is incomplete.
In A New Hope, Tarkin clearly states that “The Jedi are extinct. Their fire has gone out of the Universe. You, my friend (Vader), are all that’s left of their religion.” Ergo, they did not search for Obi-Wan because they believed there was nothing to search for.
But using the surname Kenobi was still a risk, yes? No. Tatooine is an Outer Rim, sparsely-populated, relatively poor, desert planet, with Obi-Wan living in a remote, desolate corner surrounded by hostile Tusken Raiders. Word of a crazy hermit in the hills is hardly going to be considered newsworthy, and certainly won’t be of interest to the galactic elite back on Coruscant.
No, Obi-Wan kept his name in order to maintain a link to his past, one that would, and does, end up convincing Luke to journey with him. Because there can be little doubt that Obi-Wan had more in mind for Luke than the life of moisture farmer...