They were meant for DVD. Why Lucas thought they were good enough for Blu-Ray, I really have no explanation. Not to mention further changes. And fixes.
Just to think even the 2020 UHD only happened because of the 3D release that was cancelled and those scans.
We had the same HD master on DVD, HDTV, and Blu-Ray for what 15 or 16 years.
John Lowry literally said that when the Blu-Rays would come out, Lucas would most likely come back for a better restoration… That never happened.
Given that the blu-ray came out in 2011 and the Reliance master (for 3D) was completed the following year, I’m thinking the Reliance master was supposed to be on the blu-ray, but got delayed (hence implementing the changes meant for the 3D release on the old master).