That change to ANH was perhaps the single most ridiculous thing ever done to a film in the history of cinema. It looked terrible and was completely unnecessary and there was only one person in the world who thought it was a good idea.
As for Han shooting first being
bad, it was a no brainer - Greedo actually threatens to
kill him at gun point and everyone knows that when Solo goes before Jabba he will be killed (or worse). So would anyone in that situation go with Greedo and die?
Also, I think part of this is Lucas changing things... just because he can. On that point if I were Lucas and I wanted to make a change in ANH and it came out looking like the liquid arse it did - I would can it and live with my "mistakes".
If he truly never wanted Solo to look
bad for saving his own life, he could have had Chewie walk over and bonk Greedo on the head.
Let's face it, Solo is the only actual man in the films until Lando steps in and he was supposed to be this rough and tumble smuggler. I never heard anyone say "how awful, he killed that nice green man..."
