I just found out about this, too. I was planning on buying the new release to get the original, good version, but now I'm not sure anymore. I read the long rants on Digital Bits, and it all seems suspect to me.
The only copy of the original Star Wars trilogy I own is the VHS set that came out along with those laserdisc ones, and I don't have a VCR anymore. I refused to buy the Extra Happy Special Edition on DVD, and resigned myself to waiting until George Lucas died so his estate, unencumbered by flawed artistic visions and motivated by pure greed, would actually do what a lot of fans wanted. Obviously, I was elated by the news about the original original trilogy coming out this year, but this news just saps the Star Wars fanboyness right out of my bones. I don't think I can financially reward this kind of behavior.