It can't be done. Oh sure for some similar models from the same manufacture, yes... but two drives internally different with different laser assemblies? Nope. CD players? Not a chance.
"If I have my way, you will never, ever have a copy of anything I have the opportunity to work on."
It is exactly that kind of attitude which I take issue with. So you don't want what you work on to be publically available to all?
No, that isn't what you want is it? Come on, I know better than that - you must want the original Star Wars Trilogy to be publically available or you wouldn't be involved in anything. I have a friend, who agrees that the Special Editions are awful. However he likes the new Empire scene, and the sabre effects. That is to say, he prefers them. This kind of pick-and-choose attitude is what is detracting from the original trilogy preservation. How can one person say that the Original Trilogy is what should be available, but then when push comes to shove produce a Modified Trilogy? Is that Film Preservation?
Let me ask you, if this was the preservation of the original Noddy Books, would it be okay if instead of publishing the original books how they were originally released, I modified the images that bothered me? If I did that in my "preservation" what right would have to claim golliwog shouldn't have been edited?
It saddens me to see an intelligent individual as yourself become so. You don't have to see things my way to conduct in civil debate, or discussions. You don't have to hold a grudge either. I have seen the pains it causes, because one person - and it only takes one - refuses to get along with another. And don't you - OR ANYONE ELSE, dare roll that back on me, I have not marginalized any member here, I do not hold a grudge with anyone. What your quoted statement says to me is "you are not worth the time of day". Now I'm here to tell you now, that I do not feel that way about you, or any other forum member.
The reason I have taken pains to try and convince MeBe, is that when Lucas looks at this what he will see is people cherry-picking how to compile their own version of the trilogy. Heck he has even said himself that it's not the fans that should have it their way, it's him who should have it his way. And that's exactly what he's going to continue to think if we (the SW fan community) persist with editing his work. I agree with Lucas, it's not the fans that should have it their way. What I argue is for the original trilogy in the interests of film preservation. To have the movie released his original way.
And I do believe that what MeBeJedi will do with his version will undermine the efforts of having Lucas himself release the unaltered trilogy. I'm not finished. I'll post back shortly with an extension to this post.