So, having just A/B'ed both versions myself, I agree with you that the vocal level is better in the official 2004 remaster.
The other version is just a quick, amateurish mixdown of the 5.1.
That version has the bass (much more, especially deep bass) that my ears want to hear and my chest wants to feel. And I don't ever feel blasted with treble (in either version).
On my multichannel systems, the vocal is never washed out, so that might be an artifact of the crude mixdown.
And on the same systems, all official stereo mixes are severely lacking the punch and power that I want in any heavy music.
So, all well in good that we disagree. There's no accounting for taste, right? But... I think the 5.1 mix is unfairly criticized, as the stereo album really sounds like s*#t, to me. Always has. I can enjoy the 5.1, at least.
Btw... I'm pretty sure I cover sonic issues in my review, even with the 5.1, so it's not like I said it's a great sounding mix or can't be improved. Only that it sounds best, to me.