Well, this is all I know. We were supposed to get the unrestored releases on DVD years ago. They were delayed because of the new Dark Shadows. The thinking is they would be released around the same time, but then they were pushed back so as to separate the titles.
Then Depp Shadows is being promoted and something caused Home Entertainment to change the date of the release again.
Now, the packaging plays up the original series as opposed to Depp Shadows. Like you said, MB, there could be something on the back or, like I said, there could be some marketing tie-in. But I find it strange that all of this went down and now the TV Show is being used as the promotional tool as opposed to Depp Shadows. What does that lead us to believe? I have no idea, but I think it's clear that Depp Shadows played a part.
Why wait to release the movies until Depp Shadows came out, then opt to separate the release dates, then reverse that decision, release them closer to the debut of Depp Shadows, and then fail to mention Depp Shadows on the front covers?
As for the art, I don't dislike it. It's actually what I was expecting.