From what I can tell, aside from inserted material, the '97SE were actually really decent restorations…at least compared to the demolition derby of the 2004 and subsequent '11 release.

I don’t think I’ve completely watched the '97s (though I’m hunting down a few VHS sets on Ebay right now), but I have seen the '04 and '11 releases many times. Overall I think I’d have to side with the '97SEs.

For ANH, the Greedo scene is awful, but blink and you’d miss it, so I just blink. I honestly think Jabba looks better in the '97SE as he actually blends into the environment well. As awful as that model was, it was colored and lit miles better than the '04 version. Rest of the CG was mostly harmless (Mos Eisley aside, good god) and the Death Star’s Praxis shockwave always makes me giggle.

For Empire, original Boba Fett voice +1, chimp emperor +1, but then there’s Luke’s scream which is…eh…

Jedi is like trying to pick between dog shit, horse shit, and buffalo shit. '97 still wins for Sebastian Shaw alone.