I hope the editing continues to go smoothly, Adywan. I can't express what a service you are doing and the way you have found that tenuous place where both OUT and SE fans are excited and impressed is to be commended. I find that most SE haters like myself disliked the changes in story, character and mood - It seems you are also of that camp of preserving story and character and mood, just polishing and enhancing what is already there, not pulling us out of the experience. Also, because your restoration work has been so thorough, at a scene-by-scene level, new shots (both yours and SE) don't stand out like they used to with the 1997 SE. They feel more organic and interwoven. It's brilliant.
I know the extended Alderaan Jar-Jar scene is a special feature and I'm grateful for that rather than have it in the film. I honestly do not feel I can dictate creative choices to you because I have not the talents you are putting into this project. I do not think it is my place to judge. I would like to say one last thing - I don't know if a decision was ever reached to preserve the Jabba scene in the movie or not, but I know you were thinking about deleting it. I hope you do delete it. It repeats dialogue from the Greedo scene (which now looks amazing, by the way) and ruins the reveal of the Falcon by the heroes two short scenes later. The scene destroys a little bit of narrative impact and writing-wise, it is redundant.
However, I know that if you choose to keep the scene, you will have a good reason for it. Unlike my thoughts on Lucas lately, it is nice to see evidence that Adywan's judgement can not only be trusted, but euphorically supported. Keep up the great work and if something goes awry, let us know. I know I'll jump in and do anything to help. You have my word.
nohandluke