Being a TOS fan from when it first got aired in the UK in the mid 70's, I certainly understand the whole timeline/canon stuff.
Back then (and into the preTNG 80's) we had TOS, TAS and the first few TOS movies. Which along with the original Spaceflight Chronology, FASA Star Trek roleplaying game and the superlative "The Final Reflection" by John M Ford made for a pretty consistent interlocking setting. Those felt like halcyon days.
TNG reinvented (contradicted) most of that, and we are where we are today.
I am proud to say "my" Trek setting is still back there but I still recognise that is an out of date, grumpy-old-man, NIMBY, grognard point of view, no longer worth arguing over.
But one that I think many still share.