I remember playing Jack Orlando in it's original version before Director's Cut back when it came out. If I recall correctly it didn't have two things people hate in DC: dead ends and idiotic dungeon part in Act II (still had random deaths and lots of red herrings but back then I thought that's fine and makes the game more realistic).
Only difference in DC (apart from that dungeon) is a little different interface.
Any chance of geting that older version here on GOG?

Yeah, it would be great.

The original version was MUCH better gameplay-wise: the puzzles were much more straightforward (I actually completed it without any walkthrough, though I was a newbie adventurer then), the most illogical and unguessable puzzles were missing from that version. The interface felt smoother and it was a relief that the game removed all irrelevant items from your inventory at the beginning of each act - unlike this version, where you have to carry all junk you mistakenly picked up during the whole game...

I'd be really happy if the original (and much better) Jack Orlando would be included with this "Director's Cut" version.

Speaking of the original version: I remember back then that there was a normal and a "High Performance" Version. Is the Directors Cut the same version as the "high performance version" or yet another version?

No idea... The one that was sold in Poland long ago didn't have this idiotic 'gothic tunnels' sequence and lacked some other minor puzzles.

I think the high performance version had just better sound quality AFAIR, so I think the DC is based on the latter.