George didn’t want them to look good next to his crap digital fake world prequels. He probably ordered the 2004 masters to be butchered intentionally out of spite.
I think it was more laziness and apathy than spite. It was done digitally and cheaply, two things he loves. He was working on Revenge of the Sith at the time also and even that mess required him to do a lot of work.
Now the 2004/11 changes? Those were pure spite. Especially the NOOO! in Jedi. That was him getting back for people laughing during the end of Sith.