system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Star Wars] In "A New Hope," why didn't the rebel fighters fly straight down at the exposed vent instead of navigating a long trench?

EDIT: I guess part of my confusion is this: The Death Star, being a spherical object could be approached from practically any direction, but was covered with laser turrets throughout its surface. No matter which entry path was chosen, the fighter had to fly directly down towards the station's surface. Per the movie plans, it was to skim the trench to approach the vent. 

If the entire surface was covered in those turrets, then didn't they actually INCREASE the amount of danger (and likelihood of failure) by increasing the distance flown and prolonging the fighters' time close to the station and near the turrets?
gpt
They'd be exposed to more turbolaser fire increasing the chances of getting hit and destroyed. 

They weren't anti-fighter weapons, but with enough pointed towards them, they'd eventually start to hit stuff.