Hmmm... I'm not confident in dismissing these accounts. I can imagine people remembering things wrong, but these people seem awful certain. Plus, can't you just imagine Lucas altering the film after its release?

I didn't see Star Wars until 1981, so I don't know what scenes were being shown in the film in the late 70s. I take it we can be sure that some extended cut like I was speculating about was not the primary released cut of the film? (Just want to make sure, crazy as it might sound.)

It take it we can be pretty sure any extended cut that could have been out there couldn't have been common? (Because the novel/comic/radio/storybook adaptions sure would fit with an extended cut being common.)

I'd love to hear any further speculation or info on this.