Thanks for pointing out the alteration to the first lightsaber scene, msycamore. I too noticed that quite a while ago, and it bothered me because there was something not right about it. Obviously the old transfers are of rubbishy quality, but you can still see the difference even there; the Technicolor print, of course, is by far the best representation. The blade looks so well made and natural in that version, while the SE is flat and sharp and strange and stupid in comparison.
The same kind of thing is apparent on the Millennium Falcon's engine glows--the SE version never looks as good and is more artificial than the original. Even with all the errors made back then, the older effects work was quite often stylistically superior. Funny, isn't it?