I like the letter. My only concern is that it seems to be implying that only the people who grew up with the OOT in the 70s and 80s are passionate about seeing a new restoration. As if the only reason a restoration should be done is for the sentimental satisfaction of the aging fanbase. I think it would actually be of benefit to broaden the scope a bit.
Maybe you could mention how even a lot of newer fans are passionate about these hugely important movies. Personally speaking, I grew up in the 90s and associate almost every single version of the OT with my childhood (besides the 2011 versions). Despite that, I still want the OOT released because…well, those are the actual movies. There’s an authenticity to those original films that’s simply lost when you watch any subsequent version. It’s really hard to appreciate the special editions on any contextual level because they’re a mishmash of various ideas & film-making technology that spans 4 decades. Like you can’t watch the 2011 version and marvel at what Lucas was able to accomplish with his low budget (for the kind of movie he was making) and 1970s special effects.
These two quotes by George Lucas are quite relevant here:
1.) Talking about colorizing The Three Stooges, he says “Would color distract from their comedy and make it not as funny anymore? Maybe just the fact that they’re in black and white makes it funny, because their humor is dated. By putting it in black and white, it puts it in a context where you can appreciate it for what it was. But you try to make it in full, living color and try to compare it to a Jim Carrey movie, then it’s hard for young people to understand.”
2.) “As a filmmaker and a lover of cinema, I have always appreciated the many disciplines that go into making a film-- the props, the costumes, all the aspects that come together to make the whole as great as the sum of its parts. I have archived all the important pieces from my own films, and I am a staunch believer that it’s important that we all make an effort to preserve our cinematic heritage-- before it’s too late.”