Did not read link, have not seen originals, only saw Phantom Menace and gave up. Coincidence of age.
For the prequels Lucas had free reign and waited for the SFX he could not use until then - that is the shitty movie he originally wanted but could not deliver. Fuck him.
Sold rights to Disney for $9bn, and a franchise that has made $42bn I think (including merchandise, probably inflation adjusted) - boo fucking hoo. He was rich before, if he wanted creative control he was hardly held to the sword financially - his divorce was in the 80s.