Even if they were allowed how would they show the original for a re-release for the 40TH anniversary.

It was never restored. It is all well and good to dig up a print and show it. But Lucasfilm never bothered to restore the theatrical cuts of the films.

People talk all the time about the films not being available on home video, but they are not available for theatrical distribution either. It was a huge oversight on Lucas part to not restore the originals, it was a deliberate oversight.