Star Wars: Rebel Alliance

Before the release of Star Wars Episode One Phantom Menace, I had a Rebel Alliance symbol tattooed on my chest. I still like it, but among the many mistakes made or allowed by George Lucas, the symbols were switched around in Episodes One Two Three. I figure some of the gear used in Episodes Four Five Six is supposed to be recovered from earlier times so the Rebels don't care how it looks but that is a retroactive attempt at logic and basically it sucks. Anyone have a better explanation?