kk650 said:
Okay, so the cockpit has to be wider in ESB to allow for more movement, fair enough, but then adjustments/compromises have to be made with framing to avoid showing the edges of the cockpit window and risking breaking the fourth wall. Either they forgot to do that for the theatrical release or GL changed his mind decades later. In either case it is an improvement in my book, one of numerous improvements GL made with the Special Editions IMHO.

The sticking point to me is that Lucas didn't direct this movie. Kershner and his DP framed it how they wanted, it seems like Lucas didn't agree, so when someone pointed it out to him 20 years later he had them crop it. There are still mistakes in the film, but by George, the cockpit will be cropped!