skyjedi2005 said:

But from a money standpoint its brilliant marketing keep changing the films so people continue to watch the product.

If he let them alone they would be stuck in the time they were made, perhaps Lucas worried the would and cease to be relevant.

Would people have paid tons of cash in 1997 to see non restored not cgi versions of the films. Would just as many people have bought the dvd's and blu rays if they were simply the theatrical films untouched?

I wish the answer would be yes but i don't know. Its possible the majority prefer the newer cuts with all the bells and whistles and its borne out really by how much the blu rays have sold.

I've been told by those in the department stores selling the blu rays no one wants the terrible old versions with the bad effects and models on wires.

What marketing data gave them that information? Some "source" at Lucasfilm? Sounds like a steaming load to me! ;)

Lucasfilm and Fox haven't exactly been hyping the constant changes made after 1997. The closing credits have never been updated either. You'd think the folks who worked on the newer shots would want to be acknowledged, except maybe the fellow who gave Wicket demon baby eyes. ;)

AFAIK, the replacement of Creepy Puppet Yoda was not used as a selling point for the Blu Rays.