Why Obi-Wan let Darth Vader strike him down in A New Hope?

Everyone has their opinions as to why Obi-Wan let Darth Vader strike him down in A New Hope. But now after seeing 5 more films. Has anyone finally worked out why he let himself be destroyed?
Was it something to do with the fact that he couldn't finish him off in ROTS?
Was Obi-Wan more powerful as a Ghost??

 

While I'm waiting for this thread to be shut down as redundant, here goes...

Obi-wan does say that "If you strike me down... I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine." He had found his heir in Luke and so his work was more or less done. He could communicate with Luke more effectively as a force ghost, since they aren't bound to place.

I do hope people'd label their threads a bit more descriptively, a classic question could refer to almost anything...

 

Had he killed vader, the stormtroopers just would've shot him down, turned to Luke and crew, and killed them to. The suprise of him vanishing gave them enough time for Luke's little outburst and to escape.

 

He knew that he would be able to retain his identity. By doing so, he could help Luke much more by being dead than by being alive. By being alive, he was a threat to all of them.

 

He knew Luke was watching, might be an incentive for Luke
to confront Vader as Obi wanted. Also he knew he could not
beat Vader physically so why attempt it, he'd just die anyway.
He knew he'd become a force ghost and could still guide Luke.
Maybe wanted to prove something to Vader as well.

 

1. Stormtroopers moved in to watch, ready to blast him.
2. At his age, he probably wouldn't have the stamina to fight much longer, so he takes one for
the team to let the others escape, in addition to become one with the Force and be able to
help Luke more. (Don't bring in CGI Dooku and Yoda to dispute the age thing, I'm basing this
on what we saw from OT only)

 

Because Obi-Wan stood no chance against Anakin in the rematch. Anakin nearly beat beat Obi-Wan when he was a Jedi Padawan, how do you think Obi-Wan is going to hold up against him now that hes a Sith Master.

Oh and for all the reasons that everyone else stated, but regardless Obi-Wan was done for.

BTW: Has anyone tried to figure out the significance of the line "You shouldn't have come back". Is this Vader showing a little compassion for his old master?

 

BTW: Has anyone tried to figure out the significance of the line "You shouldn't have come back". Is this Vader showing a little compassion for his old master?

I don't think Vader shows compassion here, he sounds very angry when he says this. I think he means, "You got lucky on Mustafar, but coming back was the last mistake you'll ever make." That's just my interpretation of it.

 

If he battled and did die Luke might feel the dark side is more powerful and be lured to join Vadar

 

I think he was just looking for an opportunity to become a force ghost, and join Qui-Gon. And I guess it makes it easier for him to communicate with Luke wherever he goes.

 

1. So Luke & Co. could escape and wouldn't get captured waiting around for old Obi-Wan to come running to the Falcon.

2. As someone said, his work was done. He had set Luke on the proper path and there was nothing more he could do.


Becoming one with the Force was just a bonus.

PS - I love the little smile he gives Vader just before the slicing.