TheBoost said:

The continual outpouring of Love for these films proves that the PT didn't hurt them, anymore than 1000 bad pastiches have hurt Sherlock Holmes, or that terrible Timothy Dalton movie hurt Gone with the Wind.

The OT is timeless art, beloved by millions.

I agree, and I feel the PT actually makes you appreciate the OT even more, cause you take for granted how great those films are. Sequels never hurt a great original movie (or in Star Wars case, Empire Strikes Back too), the only thing bad sequels and prequels do to a movie series is it makes you spend more money for a boxset cause you can't usually buy them individually. :)