No idea. My best reasoning would be this:
The rumored 4K work is the source of the new 4K DCPs that are slowly playing in theaters, of which GE is reputedly a new master. TSWLM is likely the first of these that has actually hit disc as I don’t see it being done otherwise since GE reverted to the old master.
The video sourced UEs are all over the place in terms of processing. TSWLM seems to be the lowest quality source they got to use, and they processed the living hell out of it-more than usual. Thus the worst transfer of the series became the best on the next go round.
Also of note, the old LD does seem to support the color of the BD. And when viewed on proper equipment it holds up better than remembered, that is aside from two sequences which have that lovely 80’s/90’s MGM video nasty look to them.
Those caps are interesting TAF. I can’t tell what the source of the hdtv airings are though my suspicions would be an uprezzed or tweaked variant of the SE. Here’s a cap of the SE I just did really quick, and sure enough that fleck is there and the framing fits.
