The direct answer to the question “Is Star Trek: Lower Decks canon?” is yes. And that’s because the creator — Mike McMahan — has said its canon, and the show actually bends over backwards to make canonical references.
So yeah, everything from the Pakled war to that stupid toy “SPOCK” helmet is canon now.
I mean, I was overstating my case a little bit. To be fair, Riker and Boimler are the only actual examples we have of it (at least by that particular method), and Rutherford’s bet was more about that sort of wacky situation being “a Boimler kind of thing to happen” (possibly paraphrased).
Apparently it was a common enough thing that Rutherford won a bet when it happened to Boimler.
While lower decks is official I don’t think it’s canon (I have not seen it though) and it happens after voyager.
https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-lower-decks-canon-settle-debate/
So yeah, everything from the Pakled war to that stupid toy “SPOCK” helmet is canon now.
Having never seen the show, I don’t know how to feel about that.
I think it cheapens a few plotlines to make transporter dupes frequent when it is unheard of in the other shows
I mean, I was overstating my case a little bit. To be fair, Riker and Boimler are the only actual examples we have of it (at least by that particular method), and Rutherford’s bet was more about that sort of wacky situation being “a Boimler kind of thing to happen” (possibly paraphrased).