Would Anakin Have Been ‘Openly Vader’?

He probably would have still gone by Vader, but it would have been open. Dooku didn't hide his history with the Jedi, or his new allegiance to the Sith - all he hid was his master's presence. Likewise, I think Anakin's PR would have been something like "Anakin saved me during the Jedi assassination. But because of their folly, he can no longer be associated with them. As of now, I grant him the name Darth Vader," and then make it all but law to have people call him such. Besides, it's not like there were many people who knew Anakin and Vader were the same person post-ROTS anyways. Most of them were dead.

 

The impression I had as a kid watching the OT was that it was no secret to anyone that Vader was a former Jedi. The name change was symbolic of his new allegiance and not any effort to hide his true identity or whatever.

As far as public perception, I never got the feeling that Vader was positioned as any sort of public figure. He was the Emperor’s enforcer, not his running mate. He wasn’t giving speeches or interviews. He was Palpie’s attack dog - operating behind the scenes to force obedience out of sight.

 

He couldn’t hide it unless he personally planned on killing everyone who ever met him. So he would be open about it. An interesting what if

 

True and same. But Vader was also a mask whose face wasn't known or shown. This unscarred Anakin may not have that option. Well, I mean he obviously could hide his face, but I think showing that even the Hero With No Fear (aka @The Hero With No Fear ) got in line would go a long way in easing the public's conscious about the situation. Besides, Palpatine probably had other enforcer types he could have used.