.Mac. said:

I understand that many people are bitter about the PT, and rightfully so.

It's not just that, though (although it is mostly that). The other problem is that Return of the Jedi closed pretty much all of the OT storylines down. Unlike Empire, which followed in the traditions of your classic serials by opening up more plotlines than it resolved, Jedi wrapped up the loose ends and put a nice bow on top of it for everyone. The story was finished. I didn't really want to see any more Star Wars movies after Jedi (for the same reason I really don't want to see a sequel to Casablanca--the story is already complete), and the prequels simply drew a line under that sentiment.

Anyone who makes a sequel pretty much has to create their own story. This is risky because people loved the old stories, and would accept continuations of those stories more easily than entirely new stories that just happen to have some of the same characters later in life. Not saying it won't be good, just saying it's a tough act to follow.