I know that any company that could do a proper scan likely wouldn't touch a Star Wars print because of copyright infringment. However, in the US, there is an exception to legally back up a copy of something if the current copyright holder does not have the material, or is otherwise unable to. It would still be illegal to publicaly screen such a video but then again, so were the dvd's made from the laserdiscs.
I'm just wondering if recording one of those prints off a screen with a decent video camera might get something at least better than the Gout.
1. There would be no THX smearing.
2. Depending on which lens was used on the projector, the film could be left vertically squeezed so an animorphic recording would be possible. (although 70mm is not anamorphic)

Seriously, wouldn't even my Hi8 camera yield more resolution than a D1 letterboxed master tape if the film was squeezed to fit a 4:3 frame?

My only other crazy idea would be to check with film preservation organizations in Rhode Island. A friend of mine (we live in the midwest) told me his grandfather owned a theatre there and has all the prints for all kinds of films willed to some museum or similar organization.