Forgive me for saying this but i like that the stories are written by someone other than Lucas.
The only Author who created a character who could hold his or her own with the film characters is Timothy Zahn and his creation Mara Jade. It was genious to create a character that was a contrast to Luke and someone he could be played off of. You know since Leia turned out to be his siter and ended up with Han Solo.
Thrawn was also a brilliant creation.
Some EU stuff not so good like superweapon of the week type plots etc. Or Prequel rehash via the legacy novels.
Also they felt the need to make star wars less of an escapist fantasy and more dark gritty and real putting in characters dieing since Vector Prime. Major Characters not throw away one like General madine.
Also the more Jedi and Sith there are the less cool and less mysterious they are and the more rediculous things they can do. See the Genddy series or force unleashed, or the prequels, new clone wars cartoons.
Jedi become more run of the mill than being mythic.