My 2 cents:
I am an artist myself (musician) who would not appreciate fans telling me what I can and cannot do with my own songs (even if they have a perfectly valid cultural point, mind you). I read the online petition and I find a glaring problem with it that nobody seems to have addressed (or maybe they did but I can't search the forums for it): the fact that you get more flies with honey than with a stick.
The tone of the petition to George Lucas (i.e., "you have the responsibility...") can only elicit the response "Excuse me?" It really undermines any chance of convincing any serious artist from changing his or her mind about something they themselves hold near and dear to their heart. (Again, I know because I can totally identify with George's defensiveness for his creations). Why not something more like this:
"Mr. Lucas, we acknowledge that these are your creations - and yours alone, and that anyone who doesn't acknowledge this is sadly mistaken. Please understand that many of us grew up watching the original versions for 2 decades, which has burned these images and sounds into our psyche, making them a part of us. Think of your own favorite movie growing up and imagine them no longer being available in their original glory. This is why many have been so disappointed. This is not about the changes made to the original movies, and people's anger will incorrectly make this about the changes. Newer fans will naturally adopt the movies in the format they first see them in, but the number of people who have grown up with the original versions - flaws and all - plead only for the chance to have them preserved as they remember them growing up - not in place of - but in addition to - the current iterations of the films..."
etc, etc...
Yes, I said plead because if I ever saw him in person my first and possibly only reaction would be "Thank you George!!! Thank you for Star Wars!!!". Not "How could you!" I think we need a little more perspective, and I hope not to have offended anyone here with my viewpoint (though if I did, I don't care. It's my honest and heartfelt conviction that George changed my life for the better with those movies, even if I don't like that he stopped making them available).
Star Wars OOT fan to the end,
Joe Tunon