The reason why the majority public likes the SE's better than the original trilogy is because they are just lemmings who accept everything thrown at them. And since the SE was the last version that was released that's the version they remember the most, and thus that is the version they will accept. You must also take into consideration that the "Majority" are not even die hard fans who grew up with the star wars movies. And young kids like Jimbo will accept the SE over the OT because that's the version they grew up with. If Dimbo had grown up with the OT he would have a completely different outlook. He's also in that stage in his life where he thinks that anyone over 18 is nothing but an old fogey, and he will view old movies the same way; but when he gets older he'll come to appreciate classic movies and original versions for what they are.

It doesnt matter how much better the special effects are made, people will accept anything thrown at them. Lucas could re-release the original trilogy tomorrow, and it would make millions, and everyone would accept that version over the previous one--the SE. Then when he re-released the SE after that one, the SE would become popular again. If Peter Jackson re-released the LOTR trilogy 20 years from now with added effects, the diehard fans who grew up with the movies would complain, but the new generations (like dimbo and friends) would accept the recent version over the latter one.

Such is life