To me, most of the planets in the OT (Tatooine, Yavin 4, Hoth, Dagoba, Bespin and Endor) were pretty much supposed to be the galactic sticks. So in a, non-OT purist, way it would make sense if they didn't pop in to Yavin 4. The exception is Tatooine obviously due to the Jabba connection. Though in TPM the Republic has no presence on Tatooine, but by ANH there is atleast a small garrison (or were all of the troops from the Star Destroyer?)
I would love to see more of Alderaan though.