S_Matt, I can identify if not agree with everything you've said except this:

S_Matt said:

Jedi and Star Wars only really differ from the prequels in that the actors and the characters are like-able and believable.

Woah there buddy! To say that Star Wars was on par with the prequels or even Jedi in terms of pacing and story delivery is utter rubbish. George might have directed but the friends that he showed it to hated it. Whoever was the editor for Star Wars (and I'm ashamed that I don't know...) was largely responsible for the movie's success. The fact that the now-replaced and horribly out-of-place Biggs hangar scene was cut is a testament to the editor's gift, and Lucas' folly. In at least some of the PT I believe George used Ben Burtt, his SOUND editor to edit the video. To his exact specifications no doubt, leaving all that boring exposition-y crap intact.