This horrible split lightsaber syndrome in the Definitive Collection transfer of the first film confirms that something was improved when it was time for the Faces release in '95. I now remember seeing this in Dr Gonzo's ANH disc which was sourced from the DC.
Some talk about the differences between the DC and Faces in this blast from the past: http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/definitive-versuses-faces/topic/2742/