The excuse that it'll cost too much to restore the theatrical versions is complete BS - experts estimate that it'd cost $100k per film TOPS. They have prints, they have IP's they have negatives, they have the 1997 SE's as archival negatives - all they need to do is scan those, chop out anything with SE content in it and drop in theatrical bits, which being isolated short sections of footage, they can get from whatever source is best on a case by case basis. Throw in some color-correction and paint out some dirt and damage and boom, done.