I doubt Lucas will ever really concede to releasing the OOT properly during his lifetime, but I'm hoping that after he's gone, FOX might step in and begin releasing the OOT alongside the '04 trilogy in order to meet consumer demand. I don't know much about copyright with regards to film, however, so I don't know if this is a possibility.

Overall I'm pretty optimistic, as I think a core group of the younger generation will continue not only to be aware of but prefer the original '77, '80, and '83 releases over the '04 set thanks to people like us. I gave my three younger cousins (now 10, 8, and 6 years old) copies of the originals on DVD, and to my knowledge those are the only versions of the OT they've ever seen. I plan on doing the same for my own two children once they're old enough.

. . .

Sorry, I just had a vision of my wife talking to my children in the event of my untimely death:

Mom: (reaching into a trunk and pulling out some dusty OOT DVD cases) Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but Lucas wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow OT.com forum members and prefer quality over crap, like your father did.

Kids: What is it?

Mom: Your father's Original Original Trilogy discs. These are the movies of a true Star Wars fan -- not as clumsy and random as the PT. Elegant movies... for a more civilized age.