I'll be brief as this is a Star Trek thread...
RE: B5. It *was* shot for WS presentation and protected for 4:3 (see here and here). The reason it was *cropped* WS was the original vfx files were *lost* (supposedly the HD containing the files crashed or was lost - I've read conflicting stories)...
There has *rarely* been any "forward thinking" on TV series. Most are produced with a "one and done" mentality which ushers in the most economical production methods possible. You'd think by the 80s most producers would be looking at the history of syndication and planning on keeping their...
That Star Trek the Motion Picture longer TV cut did not receive a BR release, much to my annoyance. I don't own UHD and am unlikely to ever upgrade. Unless Paramount changes their mind it means I'm "stuck" with my old DVD of that one.