I too became a purist around 2004. I really liked the 1997 special editions ( apart from a few changes) because they were just that; Special Editions. A fun ALTERNATIVE. When the DVD set came out and George announced that these are the only versions of the OT that exist, i grew to dislike them. If he wanted to fix the so called flaws then why didn't he just do that, instead of adding all this pointless crap, like adding Hayden at the end of Jedi, who looks like he is about to butt rape the Ewoks. With George saying that these are the only versions it was a huge "F**k You" to all the original fans that gave him everything he now had and had remained loyal throughout the wilderness years where there was not much Star Wars anything. The final nail in the coffin for me was when the blu-ray set came out and even more questionable changes were added. I can no longer watch those versions. The DVD & Blu-Ray versions just don't exist to me.

If you are going to do a Special Edition, then do it properly, but just keep it as precisely that; a special edition. At least give some respect to the fans that gave you everything and respect that they [refer the original versions.