I think we way overanalyze the faults of the PT sometimes, and it is real simple: Lucas was past his prime when he filmed the PT, and like many directors, his best work was done in his 20's/30's as a struggling director before he had kids and becomes financial successful. Now sure there exceptions like Spielberg, but there are exceptions to every rule.

When was the last time Brian Depalma made a great movie? Did anyone see Eyes Wide Shut by Kubrick before he died in 1999? Has Coppola done anything near the quality of his 1970's work with Godfather I & II, The Conversation, Apocalypse Now? These guys did their best work when they were hungry, and their careers were on the line: Spielberg with Jaws, Coppola with Godfather, Lucas with Star Wars.

I think a director gets soft through the years, and loses that edge, and in this genre of fantasy, is out of touch with what is cool to the public. You have to remember Lucas was in his late 20's when he made the OT, and invented the lightsaber, the millenium falcon, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Carbonite, AT-AT's, The Emperor, these are all cool things that appeal to the geeks in this genre. What is cool in the PT other then maybe Darth Maul?

I do agree that if Lucas would have hired writer A, and had more collaboration, etc, the PT would have been better, but the heart of soul of the OT came from Lucas, and I just think a 50 year old guy writing about a teenage kid who turns the darkside is a recipe for disaster, compared to a 25 year old guy writing about this huge war going on in space between good vs evil.