Just look at Superman II: The Donnor Cut, it took years and years for it finally to made, or re-edited by Richard Donnor, after Warner Bros gave the final OK to release it. Donnor even says it in the Commentary that it was the fans who pushed this thing through and that was because of the constant letters, emails, and internet petitions.
I still believe if this website did not exist, the 2006 OOT would have never been released, and sure I think it is a shitty release, and I am not happy at all with it, the bottom line is if Lucas didn't know there was a market for this product out there, he sure as hell wouldn't have released it again, and go back on his word that they don't exist. I mean why didn't he release the 1997 SE versions on DVD, cause nobody is bitchin about them!
So I would say keep the petition going, and all we can do is wait, and eventually hope that Lucas will come around, the same way Superman II: The Donnor Cut hit the stores, and The Bladerunner Boxset is coming out this year. It sucks to wait, and I don't like it anymore then any of you guys, but I think that is all we can do. Just remember, Lucas knows there is a fanbase thats wants these versions.