For fuck's sake, if Kevin Smith was able to afford a full-on clean-up, enhancement, and restoration of "Clerks" with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, George Lucas can afford to restore "Star Wars." If "Dawn of the Dead" (a film just about as old as SW) could be given a four-disc DVD release with three different cuts of the film on it, there is no excuse for Star Wars, Empire, & Jedi not getting the same respect. I wish Lucas would just stop with the lame "excuses," and just be honest about it all. Is he afraid of alienating fans? Why? You're already making up excuses to not give them what they've been demanding for years. I'd have a little more respect for him if he just spoke the truth.
I don't like being a complainer, but it's the people out there that drive me to become one. I'm also not a fanatic as I don't wholly loathe the updated editions, but there's enough in there that I don't like (and some stuff that I grossly detest), that make me desire the original theatrical editions. I imagine that is the case for numerous people.
By now, it's also part preservation. I am an independent filmmaker, and I know what it's like to be unhappy with a film made under tight restrictions. You don't have the best tools to make the film everything you desire it to be, but even then, I am a slight bit of a pack rat. I wouldn't suppress a fully released film of mine in favor of a revised edition (not that anyone would notice with my lack of exposure). So, I do believe that multiple versions can co-exist. Ridley Scott doesn't care for some of the cuts of "Blade Runner," but he can see the other side of conversation. He approved putting those alternate cuts out there for completist sake, and because he knows there are people who prefer a version that he doesn't. He's fine with that because the version he is fully satisfied with is out there. Whether other people agree with it or not is not an issue with him. It's sad that George Lucas can't perceive art in the same way. Having the OOT shouldn't diminish whatever satisfaction he has for his personally approved, updated versions. And for as much of a "cash grab" and merchandising mentality he has, it's that close-minded artistic viewpoint which overshadows his desire to cash-in on releasing something which is in such high demand. Thus, it is purely and simply ego we are combatting in this matter, and I've dealt with a few egomaniacs over the years. It's a tough fight to win.
-NJM