the panels on the TIE don't generate its power, its not possible to get the kind of energy they need to preform as they do just from sunlight, and even if they did then they wouldn't be able to operate in deep space. the panels are radiators for the TIE's reactor, just as the S-foils are for the X-wing.
pirates can't afford to build or buy top quality fighters, like X-wing and Tie Defender. so they buy cheap and propably broken ships and rebuild them to work.
An original is a tie fighter and i think they are evenly matched except Y-TIE uglies have hyperdrive engines and turrets but are very unmaneuvable so its hyperdrive and ion cannon vs very good maneuverability
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