Except that would cheapen a bunch of character moments, violate established cannon, and would just be lazy writing.

Stories are at their best when they are dynamic. If nothing ever changes, you have a trashy sitcom or soap opera.

Sure, follow a prequel timeline long enough, and you star hitting cannon events. But it's simple to move forward. You tell new stories set in-between the established cannon. But still constrain yourself to not violating that cannon.