I still think the Zahn trilogy captured Star Wars perfectly. I thought it had the same scope, the same feel, the same universe, etc. I also felt that Zahn took all the garbage that was out there and put it back into focus in his later two books; he did a good job of taking the EU he had been given and bringing it back to good old Star Wars.
But it's hard, any expansion of scope loses the feel. The OT worked because it followed several personal stories that just happened to be wrapped up in a larger adventure. Any effort to chronicle the workings of the greater republic/empire changes the scope. Anyway.
I haven't encountered TOO many super weapons, other than the eye of palpatine. I think Zahn dodged that bullet.