@snicker: I do understand what you mean about the highlights! I have my monitor calibrated to reference so I can see the difference very clearly.

It's just that from what I've seen the original had more "blended-together" highlights like the 2.1 there. The noticeable edge in the specular highlights that you mention is something I think Lucasfilm created by balancing the highlights very badly for the 2004/2001 SE. In every single scene on the blu-ray those brightest highlights are too separated from their surroundings.