I like the idea of stormtroopers being elite. The movies certainly support this idea. The stormtroopers attack on the Jawa's sand crawler and Obi Wan's statement "only stormtroopers are so precise" shows this. As does the boarding of the Tantive IV and the assault on echo base. Typically, the rebels are running from the stormtroopers, with the notable exception of the first Death Star where Tarkin and Vadar expressly let Han, Luke, and Leia escape and the battle of Endor, where the Ewoks annoyed the stormtroopers to death. 

cparadis said:

That is just because the Rebels are always heavily outnumbered. It is the same in The Lord of the Rings - the Free Peoples are on the defensive because while Elves are better fighters than Orcs, the thing with Orcs is there there are thousands of the buggers!

Just for fun. Why were the stormtroopers in Star Wars such bad shots? and The Biggest Star Wars Plot Hole, Explained by Science. Besides the main characters who are wearing plot armor, stormtroopers were a threat. And when they are translated to a game, they still need to be threatening and intimidating. You can play them like keystone cops if that is your interest, but most players want to be challenged, or at least have the appearance of being challenged. And they should have character as the faceless minions of the empire as much as any other actual named NPC. That way when they show up they either inspire the characters to take them out or run away, depending on the circumstances.