I understand but was not that the original aim of the special edition to just fix a couple of bad shots. Clean up the soundtrack and picture.

Then when Lucas got Fox to pay for the whole thing he used it as an excuse to play with his computers as free r&d for the prequels.

Ruining 3 classic films in the process and then deciding the other version had to quietly disappear.

Does Disney ever release a catalog title unaltered?

As to a Faux theatrical version not interested, scan an IP or whatever and get it out there unless a massive restoration is necessary to save the films.

Does starting from the negatives anyway produce a much different product than the original theatrical release print even if nothing is altered?