Finally makes sense, it does.

IRL it’s because the old serials that inspired Star Wars, like Flash Gordon, came in 12 parts. When Star Wars first came out it didn’t have any sequels and was just called Star Wars, it wasn’t until he was greenlit for Empire that the original was rereleased as Episode IV.

This would be funnier if that was the release order instead of the actual 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.