It seems that alot of material in the EU is just an echo of what the movies do.

Jabba the Hutt is a big worm? How about an entire species of big worms that are all just like him, and are all gangsters too!

Jabba had a pet rancor? So what? Everyone has one. In fact, Rancors are about the most common animal in the galaxy. Right next to Banthas.

Greedo was a bounty hunter? So is every member of his species. He's like a halfling thief... rodians only have one potential life path.

Every criminal is a smuggler with a bounty on their head. Apparently the GFFA doesn't have any other crimes. Or any other way of dealing with criminals.

In a galaxy with millions of systems, every always seems to go to or have been to the same couple dozen.

Anakin had a secret wife? That's the Jedi equivalent of a priest with a drinking problem. Just look the other way.

Palpatine almost destroys the Jedi? Not a big deal. It had been done quite a few times before, and is done again a generation or two later.

Vader is a Jedi who falls to the dark side and is redeemed? Here's how "ROTJ" should have played out.

PALPATINE: "You must know now that your father can never be turned from the Dark Side."

LUKE: "Actually Empy, if you read up on your history, it's not at all uncommon. Darth Revan and Ulic Quel Droma come to mind. Someday my grandson will do it too."

VADER: "He's right boss. Maybe we should BOTH go back to the light side."

I don't know if it's writers or publishers afraid of inventing new ground, or Lucasfilm only approving things that have huge derivative elements, or what, but it's one of the reasons I just can't get into the EU.