Thats actually very true. Works of art survive by the general consensus of the population. Its like the idea of a meme. If a work is not loved, then it withers away and is forgotten, for it has nothing of value to bring to society. If a work is loved then it is cherished and remembered, for it has something of value to bring to society. Society loved the OT with as much love as the public could have for a film series but its reaction to the PT was one of indifference, at best. The PT will sort of fade away, simply because society wont let it be recognized in the same category as Star Wars or the OOT. Why do you think Lucas is so worried to release the OOT? The decision to only have the OT-SE because "thats the one that is good and thats the one he wants the public to remember" smacks of insecurity at its most blatant. If it is as good as Lucas thinks then society will embrace it regardless of his actions or statements. And Lucas knows that society will reject the SE and uphold the OOT, which is why he has been so active to work against this. But he cant stop it. He can't change society, for all his power and control in every other facet of his life. Public opinion is the one thing that we control.