With the new series, that is; it’s not really possible for someone of my generation and temperament to be disappointed with the original. I’m far too blinkered.
Anyway, this is something that I have been thinking about for years – oh, ever since I originally saw the new trilogy, really. Now there are lots – lots – of things that annoyed me, and most of them have been discussed at length and with more elegance than I could manage. But the one thing that irks me every time (aside from Padme’s clothing…) is this:
Lucas introduces Owen and Boru.
He introduces Chewbacca.
He introduces the Hutts, and Bobba Fett.
But there is no Han Solo.
Seriously? No mention? No “oh look there’s a smuggler, he’s got his nephew Han with him learning the ropes”?
Bugs me a lot. Just saying.
Randomly Yours, Alex 
That one never bothered me, consider that Luke and Leia were just born, and Solo wouldn’t have been TOO much older, you know? He might’ve been a toddler in the last movie, and I for one didn’t want to see Lucas muck up his origins. 🙂
Not knowing the chronology, I’ve always assumed Han was a good ten years older than Luke and Leia, which is why it would have worked for me.
You’re right in that I think Han is about ten years older. But I think adding Han would’ve been too much… for me, it was irritating enough that he added Boba Fett. From what I vaguely remember about Han’s origins, his story wouldn’t have fit well into the prequels at all… he only became a smuggler after he left the Imperial Army (he ran off after rescuing Chewbacca).
It didn’t have to be a smuggler, I guess… 🙂 It just made me scowl! Oh well.