As much as I enjoy some (a rather limited quantity) of the EU, I really hope you are right and that the ST is not limited by it. Star Wars has completely dried itself up in my mind, thanks to the EU, and unless it simply disregards most of it, I can't see a very creative or interesting ST.

But just think of how mad some fans will be. And just think about how the books will quickly drop in sales. They will become fun diversionary tales, much like the Trek novels, but otherwise non-canonical.