Regarding Rouge One. I've been following the expanded universe since 1991 when I found the first book on the book shelf and was shocked. I've read every book since minus the scholastic ones, made for kid ones, and the three horror novels put out. a nd right now I'm reading what seems to be the last of the 'legacy' line, Crucible.
The Expanded universe is hit or miss. I'd say a bout 50% of it is good. alot of the new republic stuff can be skipped. The Terror of Kevin J Anderson and his super weapon fetish. etc. but lots of it feels like star wars. Mostly Timothy Zahn and Michael Reaves written books.
The thing I'm most pissed about in this new timeline is the seeming elimination of Han and Lea's marriage, and the birth of their three kids, Anakin, Jacen and Jaina. It would have been a perfect way to create a new 'young' generation of the current hero's if you have the older characters and younger characters mix together. including luke's son , Ben. and others like Tahiri, Allana, Jag, etc. But now all that history that worked is gone. and it would have been fun to see characters like Kyle on screen.
I just hope JJ does it right and doesn't screw it up like he did star trek. I am both excited and dreading this new movie.