I don’t make a custom of regarding quotations from the creator about the subject work as definitive interpretations of the created product. I don’t think it’s unimportant either, but no I don’t privilege it as “Word of God” as a practice.
However, there are certain assumptions I can’t do without: when the production team says show X is a sequel to show W, I believe that the story in show X is part of the continuity of show W. The events in both story happen in the same world at different times.
I cannot make the same assumptions for the Macross franchise.