Why side with the Empire?

Because it's fun to play out being evil with no actual consequences?

It's fun to play the perceived bad guy...plus the Sith corruption transformation is pretty cool.

It's shiny...

---

Guess, for me, it's mostly to play the "******" fantasy, yes you can be a dark republic player, but truly evil is on the empire side imo.
Then, there are plenty republics in RL, but no real Empires, so joining one is also kinda cool and I believe autocracy can work if the ruler is immortal.
(think Dune and LetoII)
and finally sith philosophy is simple and I really can relate to it - give in to desires, don't let anything stop you, the end justifies the means.

Because my guild chose Empire

Well, you the Empire isn't that Evil, look, the story of the Inquisitor is basically becoming a Sith Lord or dying, even if he is "good" he doesn't have other choice than being bad. I would even said that playing Empire but trying to be good is very interesting story wise.

I sympathize with them just fine, I understand the motives: Gain power, dominate others.

As sad as it is to say in the real world, that's how people succeed in life. The richest, most powerful people in the world today got where they are by exploiting others. In a game, well you can do that without any conscience or morality to nag at you.

"For those that are playing on the Empire's side is is about just being able to be a bad ***?"

The empire strives towards anarchy through emotion and feelings.
It's not about just being a ****** (over here.) If you know what I mean - there's more into it, than being the baddest cat in the yard. The fastest reader in the class. The quickets bike in the race ETC!

For the record, I have one of each class so I'm playing both Republic and Empire. That said....

As was stated in KOTOR 2, the Republic is a weak, dying beast. The Mandalorian Wars were supposed to destroy the Republic, but Revan and some rogue Jedi interfered and drove the Mandalorians back. The war wasn't a Republic win, it was a Jedi win. This means that Republic that was weak and should have died has now remained around long enough to bleed to death. Alot has changed in 300 years, but it is still a lumbering beast. Mandalorians, Sith, the Empire, these are groups that have risen up to test their strength and won (well, each group has found loss in the past, but its a testament to their strength that they have returned).

Playing on the Empire side gives a wider sense of freedom for your actions. The idea that you have been weighed and NOT found wanting lets you take your rightful place in charge and most NPC's you meet recognize that. Fear and Intimidation show those you encounter that you're playing for keeps and that their life is merely a pawn on the board that can be shuffled off at the first moment that strikes you.

All that aside, the Empire itself isn't actually "Evil" per se, they're merely conquerers. The Republic are defenders. There can be Jedi with Dark Side leanings and Sith with Light Side leanings. So playing on the Empire side as a Sith Warrior or Bounty Hunter or what have you give you the opportunity to explore the presence of your faction as a strong contributor to the war machine. On the other hand, the Republic and its Jedi stand as the last bastions of hope for a people that have been ravaged and beaten over and over. So, sometimes you feel like being a jerk, and sometimes you don't.

I guess I can see where you are coming from, especially with that last part. Sort of a personal: if it feels good do it, but you have to be strong enough to stand up for it.

Its just the part where you always feel like the guy watching your back is just waiting to stab you there, like there's no genuine camaraderie from a story perspective. I've only played a little bit of the Empire and that was what I got out of it. Does that sort of thing come up at all?

Pretty much this. The Jedi Code always sounds to me like they wanna take away my humanity by telling me to set aside my emotions. It has just always rubbed me the wrong way because I believe that emotion and passion are what drives Mankind to greatness.

For me the better player plays Empire.

After 7 years of alliance in WoW I was not going to make the same mistake again.

I am already seeing a large hike in average skill in pugs and getting your poo pushed in in PvP battlegrounds nine times out of ten was a killer, SO much more enjoyable to see tactics and players discussing what to do and how to do it in chat before the match starts.

The years of seeing kids in the chat channel whining and screaming for the alliance faction in wow ruined the experience, I have a friend that rolled Republic and he is telling me all the things I remember when playing alliance in WoW or the Guardians in Rift, this time I have made the right choice and thats to play with the adults. (on the whole of course there still are a few kids on the Empire side, just not in such large numbers.)