That is true. However, I think it comes down to the fact that some fans were interested in it, and Lucas had a more casual attitude towards Star Wars, because it was just one film he had made amongst many more that he thought he would be involved in. The Holiday Special developed a cult status as a "so bad its good" bootleg a little later, probably because everyone that was young in 1978 had now grown up and had nostalgia for it. At the 1987 10th anniversary convention though, it was just another cheesy Star Wars product and Lucas says its a release they are considering on VHS when someone asked about it.