I don’t agree that ROTJ is the “first Prequel”. It’s different from the other two OT movies, but not any more then ANH and ESB are different, and it’s closer to those then the Prequels. It’s character-focused rather than plot-focused, the plot isn’t as convoluted as the Prequels, it’s methodically yet effectively paced (IMO), the visuals are far more prettier, and the writing is clear and well-articulated where it needs to be and subtle where it needs to be, unlike the Prequels where it’s often either muddy and messy or on-the-nose.
I find it interesting that Hal said that, since he didn’t make an edit of it in the same vein as his Prequels.
I think Hal and I are coming from a technical standpoint. (If I remember that Hal post correctly, he was saying Jedi is his favorite). When you crack open these films as an editor, you see them completely differently than you do when you’re experiencing them as a viewer. From an experiencial standpoint, I 100% agree with you (I like the Theatrical Cut of RotJ WAY better than any of the Prequels because it’s tone much closer to IV and V), but from a technical editing standpoint Jedi is closer to the Prequels than it is to IV and V.