Wasn't the opening shot of Grafitti an improvement? I mean the movie takes place at night so instead of some boring mid day shot with an ugly building behind the diner, we see a sunset. I think it works much better.

And the scenes that were reinstated for the movie were always intended by Lucas to be in, the studio took them out. So really wouldn't that be no different from Spartacus?

EDIT: I think the problem with George Lucas is what he says about Anakin in the Episode III preview on the OT bonus disc. He can't let things go.