To answer a question posed upthread, of course a deathbed conversion is no less valid, but conversions really are for the individual. I was thinking of a public sort of redemption, you know, like what's his name - Chuck Colson? The Watergate man who became a Christian in prison and does all sorts of stuff now?
Well, true, but Vader died before he had the chance for "public" redemption. At the same time, destroying the Emperor was nothing to sneeze at...