[reegs]

You are correct. In the novelization of "Return of the Jedi" the spirit of Kenobi explains to Luke how he was hidden from Vader and that Owen Lars was Ben's brother. And you are also right - it's George's story and he can do with it what he wants. I'm convinced he's making it up as he goes along.

[Digital Chaos]

Of course he's making it up as he goes along. All through the first trilogy, they keep talking about how Yoda trained Kenobi. As we can see in Phantom, that he did not do. They never mention Jinn, because Lucas is indeed making it up on the fly.