[BerntR]

But when I hold a pencil up to where Luke drew the plane line in this picture below I see the dots on the far side, post impact, emerging above the plane line but seemingly way closer to the plane line. If you know what I mean. Anyways Im thinking it could be perspective, illusionary. What do you think?

I see the same as you. He seems to be on the plane that Mr Skywalker drew after impact and inside before. I can't understand how this is possible withoug some plane bending going on.