First: read this amazing article about the history of the EU’s canon status https://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/2019/08/guest-editorial-did-george-lucas-consider-the-expanded-universe-canon.html

Second: it’s been crazy to me how so many people blame Disney for bombing the EU and declaring it all “non-canon” even though Lucas never was beholden to the EU in all cases, some which the article highlights. A big problem with the EU was Lucas didn’t care and just let it run it’s course. He took from it what he liked and what he didn’t like he just ignored.
It is just so sad to me how people say the de-canonization of the EU was a sign of Disney’s mishandling of the license and if they just followed the books then everything would have been fine.
Stuff to ponder…