The new 25th anniversary TPM comic shows us Anakin's dream about freeing the slaves. And like all comics in the Disney era (except those labelled Legends), it's as canon as the movies.
It reminds me how much I would've liked the Jedi to have this style of costume:
Alas it's the "Skywalkers" who are the attraction. Though as Animatrix showed, there are other stories to be told.
Anyhoo, I for one welcome anything that increases the chances of a HT (or InArt) Reloaded/Revolutions Neo.
I didn't mind the Thrawn trilogy, but Dark Empire was the high water mark of the EU. Glad we got at least a taste of it in the ST.
(I wouldn't have wanted a pure adaptation of DE as I prefer a "new generation" in each trilogy).