There's a reason the imdb has an "alternate version" feature as part of their standard menu. Other directors, writers, musicians have made a habit of revisiting their works PLENTY of time. Not just hacks, or cheapo burnouts like Sharon Osbourne. People like BEETHOVEN, or TOLKIEN, Da VINCI, even. To think this is a Lucas innovation is ridiculously shortsighted. Sure, it's fun to create a bunch of "The sky is falling" scenarios just for shits n' giggles, but that's about all this is good for--artistic revisions are not a Lucas innovation, nor did he really popularize it. If anything, he DEMONIZED it
This isn't a trend. This is just how art has gone over the years. It's just as malleable now as it was then. The difference is that we didn't have the internet then.
