Jimbo, you sound like a pretty intelligent guy, so it surprises me that you welcome digital enhancements and digital characters like the PT yoda. Now don't get me wrong, CGI is a great artform. I really enjoy movies like Finding Nemo and Toy Story. But no matter how "pretty" CGI is, computer graphics have yet to reach the point of realism where they fit seamlessly with live action video. While I'm watching a movie, I want to forget reality and be immersed in the story's environment. The OT is so beautiful because it brings us a whole universe filled with objects and characters that seem remarkably tangible and real. Half the reason I could not enjoy TPM and ATOC was because every time a CGI object appeared on screen (about every scene), I recognized it as fake and was jolted back into reality and out of the story. The CG characters are especially disconcerting. How are you supposed to invest interest in a cartoon character that is supposed to exist in a live action universe?
Today, I was watching ESB preSE today and for every spaceship, creature, building, etc, I tried my best to look for details that made it stand out as fake. It wasn't easy. The stop motion effects of a couple wanton (sp?) running scenes and a background at Bespin (matte painting) appeared fake, but that was it! I have so much respect for the modelers that worked on the starwars movies. Miniature models with good motion capture will beat out current CG effects everytime, hands down.
The great thing about the OT is that the story only included special effects when it was possible to make them look realistic. If it couldn't be done with realistic miniatures, the story did not include the scene. Sure it might be fun to see Yoda use a lightsaber and fight, but if this cannot be done realistically (ie with a muppet), then it is simply not worth it. Unfortunately, George Lucas apparently feels CG effects look sufficiently realistic and has lets his movies include scenes that can only be done in the computer. Not only this, but he also now draws in objects that COULD be done as superior looking miniatures!
Now I know that movie costs have risen dramatically compared to the late 70's, early 80's. Perhaps good modelers are too costly to hire? But what I found interesting is that on the ESB commentary track, a special effects commentator mentioned that it took 9 months to do all of the special effects seen in ESB. But now with the PT, which is 90% CG, it takes 2 years post-production to do add all the effects and scenery for each movie. Time is money and it would seem 2 years of CG would still be at least as costly as 9 months of modeling.