My explanation for that is long-range spaceships in the Star Wars universe have reached a point where conventional travel has reached the maximum possible fastest level. (Speed of Light) The general idea behind what is essentially wormholes (Which Star Wars calls Hyperspace) is bending space itself to link two points together. Think of it like a piece of paper and you have to draw a line from Point A to Point B. You could just draw a line directly there, or you could fold the paper itself so that the two points are right next to each other, and then just make the short hop across. As such, the other factor for speed in terms of traveling is how small of a gap you can make in Hyperspace. The ship that can make a specific "run" in the shortest distance (In this case, the number of Parsecs is lower because it is more precise) means it has superior equipment and thus is capable of providing a faster travel time.
Peter Solo is making perfect sense. Luke Griffin is an ignorant fool with no idea of how long-range space travel works.
Just a heads up, my bad on not replying for a week; been busy with things. Also, I'm intoxicated.
If Peter Solo is making perfect sense then why does he dismiss Luke Griffin when Luke says that a parsec is a unit of distance? Peter just waves his hands dismissively and stops trying to explain. To me, it seems like Peter Solo has used this as a pickup line for years and this is the first time someone has questioned him about it instead of nodding like an ignorant fool, which causes Peter Solo distress and results in his dismissal of the matter.
I understand the basic theory behind how 'wormholes' allegedly work (first heard the folded paper analogy in high school physics; it's a phenomenal way to easily explain and demonstrate the concept). However, I always thought that Hyperspace was FTL travel in the Star Wars universe instead of Wormholes. This part of your post really interested me though: [quote]...the other factor for speed in terms of traveling is how small of a gap you can make in Hyperspace. The ship that can make a specific "run" in the shortest distance (In this case, the number of Parsecs is lower because it is more precise) means it has superior equipment and thus is capable of providing a faster travel time.[/quote]
Given that, and your previous point, I'd say that Peter Solo might not be completely full of shit.
And now I shall prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that both Peter and Han Solo were completely full of shit about the Millennium Falcon making the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.
[quote][b]Via: Wookiepedia[/b]
In the revised fourth draft of A New Hope in 1976, the description for "Kessel Run" is put as follows:
"It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs!"
Ben reacts to Solo's stupid attempt to impress them with obvious misinformation.
So it implies that the puzzling speech of Han Solo is "misinformation" and not truth, and it has nothing to do with the nature of the Kessel Run in any respect. Han means nothing other than impressing Obi-Wan and Luke with pure boasting. Indeed, even in the final version of the script, the parentheses attached to Han's line state that he is "obviously lying."[/quote]
All that said, I would be remiss if I left out George Lucas' ideas on the matter, which don't provide a solid answer at all:
[quote][b]Via: Wookiepedia[/b]
In the commentary for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope DVD, George Lucas mentions that the parsecs are due to the Millennium Falcon's advanced navigational computer rather than its engines, so the navicomputer would calculate much faster routes than other ships could.[/quote]
Unfortunately getting accepted into college at 15 killed a lot of my social life. (No, I am not currently 15.)
[spoiler]So no, not much of a life. ;-;[/spoiler]
[spoiler]u r stll a bttfce tho[/spoiler]
Alternatively it's just han bullshitting two people who he thinks are locals,in an effort to look good and get hired. Which suits hans character and makes more sense than wormholes.