I don't really like any of the changes. But it makes Lucas seem like a genius to get fox to pay for free research and development for the prequels which is what the cgi on the 1997 special edition really was for.

That and seeing if the public still was interested in star wars the 20th anniversary was a test for the prequels in that regard as well. If the special edition bombed maybe the prequels would not have been made, and maybe the originals would still be available and the special edition the new coke.