I recall from a few of the X-Wing novels that the wings served two purposes. First, in their deployed mode, they spread the cannons far enough apart that their high-powered discharges wouldn't damage each other. Second, they provided improved maneuverability during combat in atmosphere. Yes, with enough engines and repulsorlifts anything could fly, but not necessarily fly well. In one of the books they state that the TIE fighters lost all of the maneuverability advantages they had in the vacuum of space when fighting the skies, and the X-Wings were able to fly circles around them.
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