The truth is, and he's practically admitted this, is that he hadn't directed a film in 20 years and wanted to knock the rust off before diving into the prequels. Great way to hone your skills, George. By screwing up one of your previous collaborations with your own single-minded vision.
Have I mentioned how much I hate Jedi Rocks lately? (Damn, I'm going to need to add that to my sig soon)