SilverWook said:

Interesting that it exists. If it's the same as the broadcast, it would lend credence to it being the WB cut, or would it just plunge us into a deeper abyss of confusion? ;)

I think it is safe to say that the Italian cut are at least pretty damn close to what the WB-cut was in its editing, going by their very similar length.

SilverWook said:

As for "ex-rental" that Betamax copy from hell I have was a rental copy, and seems to have been lightly used. Either because it's a beta, or THX wasn't something people rented out a lot.

I have often heard that rental tapes were made in higher quality because of the wear and tear they had to endure, don't know if it is true or not but it seems logic to me, the cases and casettes were at least made sturdier. When I was young and stupid I often copied rental tapes for their supposed quality and opened up the casettes and swapped the tape with my copy before I returned it, don't tell anyone. ;)