New hypothesis: Ben & Burtt damaged the negative rather than an IP, but an early IP was printed-off before the damage occurred. This early IP didn't have the subtitles for the Greedo scene burned-in, didn't have the cloudy Yavin shot, and was used for the pre-1993 NTSC home video releases, including the JSC LD.

(This would explain why they re-did the first C-3PO and R2-D2 shot for the SE!)

Two IPs were then printed off from the damaged negative:
1. An "early" IP that didn't have the cloudy Yavin shot, but was found and used for the >=1993 releases, such as the Technidisc LD. (<-- This might have been used for the pre-credits-fix theatrical run!)
2. A "late" IP that did have the cloudy Yavin shot and was used for the theatrical run.

This might also explain why the credits changed early-on in the theatrical run. The cloudy Yavin shot might have been added along with the credits fix!