I love playing Empire because I can play a light-sided Imperial. You can play a character with principles, who despises the random cruelty and xenophobia so many Imperials show, but who was raised Imperial and doesn't realize they have other options. Or who wants to change the Empire from within. Or who thinks the Republic is just as bad. Or who has an epiphany about their views over the course of the storyline. There are many, many options to play an Imperial character as a good person--and I agree that playing a light or grey Agent makes the storyline even more effective.