I had always assumed that a long time ago in a galaxy far far away implied intergalactic distances and I guess I always felt that it could have been set thousands or even millions years ago. Further, according to SR, time is relative so does it even mean anything to say that something that happened in another galaxy occurred in 1775? Then again, I never bothered to read any of the novels.
I always thought it would be interesting if it actually took place in the future for us, but “a long time ago” from the perspective of a society even further in the future, as if we were looking back on it from thousands of years from now.
It always irks me when people refer to Star Wars as a “futuristic” movie. Grrrr…it’s the first damn thing on the screen!
Well, after the company credit. Shaddap.