darth_ender said:

2. I have to say that I appreciate his attitude towards the many fan editors of his films. There is no doubt that he's well aware of this site and fanedit.org. In fact it was through fanedits that I found this site. Other producers and directors have gotten very offended about people touching their films. But he turns a blind eye towards those who tamper with his films though I'm sure he's aware that everyone on this site, editor or edit watcher, criticisizes his every decision. I don't like a lot of what he's done myself, but the fact that he allows so many of you to do what you do so well speaks volumes about his character to me.

I enjoy this aspect as well. I think their actions (or non-actions) have also set a sort of precedent as well with other studios/movies with regards to fan-edits, the sort of "laissez-faire" attitude.

I do think he is more shrewd than just being a "nice guy" here though. You start picking fights with your fanbase, then you drive away the people lining your pockets and upholding your public status. If they aren't hurting anyone or hurting your business in any significant way then just let them do their thing. Lucasfilm used to be total dicks to their fans in the 1990s but they learned they had to co-exist with them. Steve Sansweet I think went a long way to sort of mediating the give-and-take there, from what I know, which, even though I have critized the guy before, I have to admit we should all be thankful for.