PT Did Lucas forget that Uncle Owen meets C3PO for the first time in ANH?

As was mentioned, he declares that he's programmed for etiquette on Geonosis, right after he leaves Tatooine. Since it's unlikely the Lars added this ability we can be 99% sure that was his original programming. Programming that's surely useless to Shmi. Yes he can do some other helpful things for her, I guess. We should also point out though that he's apparently badly hampered by sand & the harsh environment, as he often points out when he's on Tatooine. All in all a poor choice of droid for Anakin to give his mother. Better than a pair of socks though.

 

Eitquette is perfect for Shmi. She needs help around the house, as Anakin says. C-3PO, like TC-14, is shown making drinks for Padme in ROTS. It stands to reason that he had similar uses for Shmi, like cooking, cleaning, whatever.

 

Fair enough, & at least her table manners will be improved before she meets Clieg. Maybe that's what won him over

 

I've been saying that for a while and no one pays attention. They just gloss it over.

 

Not only do we see TC-14 serving drinks, we later see C-3PO carrying dead Jawas and tossing them in the pyre. If he can pick stuff up and move it, he can clearly help Shmi out in more physical, practical ways than "merely" translating for other droids and alien species, and programming binary load lifters.

 

Just don't let him near sand. His joints freeze up.

 

Hence the oil bath. You have actually seen ANH, haven't you, Darth Downunder?

 

Poor Shmi, constantly having to run oil baths for her droid. I thought 3PO was supposed to mean less work for her

 

Yes, look at how much effort Luke is giving it as he pushes a button, then sits down and plays with his toy skyhopper! O! The agony of toil!