That is valid. I know I was excited by the idea of prequels, but honestly, a lot of that was because it was getting to live through a part of childhood I missed due to my birthday--I didn't see a Star Wars movie in a theater until Return of the Jedi, and I remember it, but vaguely. Only little bits. And the SE's in theaters was pretty cool--but I'd never seen a NEW Star Wars movie in a theater. And that prospect appealed to me greatly, plus I REALLY liked Lucas' visual sense.

But it didn't need to be the prequels, to me. It was interesting backstory, but it could have just stayed backstory and been just as good. I ended up liking the prequels a good amount, ROTS especially, but not because they were Prequels. But you're right, they weren't really NECESSARY movies. But what movie is?