When they released the 2006 DVD, Lucasfilm said that the laser disc ports were the best available source for the theatrical cuts.
It that is the case, where they did get the footage used in the "Empire of Dreams" documentary (included in the bonus disc of the 2004 DVD)? The footage in that documentary is definitly from the original version, and it looks better than what was relesed with the 2006 DVD.
What gives?