Have you ever stopped and looked at the Jabba scene objectively? Reading an interesting site on the SEs, I agree with his conclusion. There's no way George's, "couldn't fit in the effects" statement works. The sequence is not an effects sequence. Watch Han, he walks around the rather large and difficult to hide placeholder actor. He gestures in front of him. Heck, they're walking!! These things make the insertion of a stop motion creature nearly impossible at the time. it would've cost more than the rest of the effects. If it had meant to use a puppet, the two would have stood still, and the placeholder wouldn't have been so large. Also, consider the fact that Lucas didn't even fully design Jabba for the film. It's not an effects shot, and I doubt it was meant to be one.

The scene was cut for one reason, and one reason alone, it stunk. The dialogue's redundant, it spoils the Falcon's reveal, and it alludes to things that don't even impact the film. It wastes time, and is completely unnecessary. Don't give me any of that "it ties IV to VI better' garbage either. That's what Greedo's for. It does affect the story. Vader's shuttle, Jedi Rocks, Mos Eisley, The Celebration, Hayden, they all affect the story. Some do so out right, other through pacing, setting, feel. Jimbo, I respect you're right to disagree, but could you please come up with retorts that don't quote documenteries and interviews word for word. An original stance would be nice.