I initially hated the Vong. Vector Prime intrigued me, especially with Nom Anor from Crimson Empire making an appearance, but Dark Tide pretty much killed my interest, then I was forcing myself to keep up with it. Then Edge of Victory made it interesting again, having a subplot told from Vong perspective and going into their society, politics and culture. Then Traitor came out, I read it in one sitting and I fell in love with the series.
Now I think that Vong are fine, my only problem with them is that they aren't alien enough.
They know they can't make a good game. That's why they released a remaster of Dark Forces some months ago and a remaster of Bounty Hunter today.
Boba was a mystery - always masked, always silent. You want to know who or what is under the mask.
Mystery was solved in Episode II but the fandom remained.
In-universe I would explain it as speeders made for smaller aliens like Aleena who are about the size of a human child.