What some people don’t realize with Lynch is how close he came. He was actually Lucas’s number one choice ahead of Marquand but ended up pulling out.
Wouldn’t the massive falling out George had with the DGA have affected either pick? IIRC, Lynch and Cronenberg had done at least one major Hollywood film at that point.
You’re not automatically added if you’ve done a big film like some guilds. Lynch wasn’t a member at the time and would have directed the film he hadn’t said no.