Again, Lucas is accomodated himself. Who are we to say what he can change and what he can't change? It's his films. If he feels the need to change them to satisfy his creative mind, why can't he do that? He owns everything Star Wars.
You're right though. If the special editions never existed, we wouldn't have this. But for me, no matter what form, the Original Trilogy is the Original Trilogy. Updated effects can't change the fact that the story, plot, and characters remain the same. The outcome at the end of it all is the same. The feel is the same.