I see your point too, I just don't get why you make such a fuss over it. IMHO and following Lucas's "abandonment"-take on films, defintive is only definitive when he stops fidgeting with it. And if you think it's just tweaking the SE, well, whatever. Why do you hammer so much on this "definitveness". Is this then a debate of semantics?
Well, this is why disagree with your point:
It's quite plausable that Lucas might make a version of OT Star Wars a few years before he dies that has whatever in it...then, as he falls ill and is in the hospital a few years later, he says...I actually want to add this and that in Star Wars, and to take out that and this...but lo and behold, our beloved George passes away without having a chance to give his "definitve" definitve version to the world...and man, if you're thinkin' this is far fetched...
So, then what's the definitve version I ask? Is it the one he thought of before he died...well, we don't have that one...so it's the one that was actually made before he died...well not according to George...he wanted to add this and that to it, and to take out that and this...actually, it seems that maybe it's the one before that one because it was closer to what he really wanted in the end...
...that's my point.
...hey, how's this for a thought...maybe it's the one he set out to complete and finish the first time around...
...hmmmm.
...I'm arguing your point that even the last version before he dies won't necessarily be the definitve version, because he could quite possibly change his mind before having a chance to make further changes...meaning he's not gonna like the last version he makes before he dies...
...For all we know, he might well have changed his mind already on the 2004 version and is considering tweaking it for the 30th Anniversary release (and this could very well mean altering stuff he added in the 2004 version...that's my point). So arguably, if he died tomorrow, the 2004 version wouldn't be the definitve version...
I wonder what he's like when he orders food at a restaurant?
"...and for you monsieur?"
"Yes...I'll get the salmon please."
"That is an excellent choic..."
"Actually wait. Gimme the roast chicken instead."
"Alright. That will be one roas..."
"Umm. Actually, you know what? I do want the salmon after all."
"Ok...the salmon it is...and what would..."
"CHICKEN! Gimme the chicken! I don't like salmon...Never have."
"Are you having trouble decidin..."
"No, not at all. It's chicken. That's my final decision. I always wanted chicken...but I was rushed into a decison and..."
"No problem monsieur. That'll be one roast chicken."
(Waiter exits stage right).
(10 mins later, waiter enters stage left).
"Your roast chicken monsieu..."
"It looks kinda dry...can't we add something to it...like gravy? I love gravy!! Yeah, if you could throw some gravy on it..."
(Waiter exits stage right. 2 minutes later he re-enters).
"There you g..."
"Wo! That's a lot of gravy! I mean I like gravy but...kinda thick too. You guys sometimes have this specialty gravy. Kinda lighter...Yeah, gimme that SPECIAL EDITION gravy..."
(Waiter rolls his eyes, and curtains fall).