I've often doubted the "SE footage cut into the O-neg" theory. Why would they cut clean, modern film stock together with 1970s stock?

Whatever the state of the O-neg, if Lucasfilm wanted to, they could most likely restore and reconstruct the original versions from the materials they have. I've said it before, I'll say it again: It's not that they *can't* do it, it's that they *won't*. It's not about money, because a Blu-ray release of a restored OOT would make back every penny of the costs of restoration.

The fact that they turned down an offer from Robert A. Harris to restore the original versions speaks volumes. I've even heard versions of the story that say that he offered to do it *for free*, and they still turned him down. I'm not sure if that part is true, but if it is, then it really *isn't* about money, it's literally because Lucas doesn't want the original versions to be restored.