DuracellEnergizer said:
At that time, I had been led to believe that the EU was fully canon, that Lucas respected the EU, and that the films would remain true to the EU and build off of its ideas while still telling its own story.
Had I known otherwise, I may not have been so disappointed. But things are the way they are, and I still don't like Order 66 or the rushed extermination of the Jedi.
I wonder what it was that led you to believe the EU was canon? I don't remember Lucas confirming it to be so at that, or indeed, any other time. Personally, I never took the EU that seriously, even the stories I enjoyed.