I really don't want to go with the "everyone has their own tastes so let's agree to disagree" argument here because I think that the point is that Kawamori wanted to try something new with Macross, which I think is always the case when he is doing a Macross project. Especially with the CG, which shows Valkyries in a completely new light. Like it or not, I think that anime is headed towards the land of CG and in my opinion, Macross 0 is just another example that CG can be done well.
This isn't to say that hand-drawn animation should be ignored. Macross Plus and Cowboy Bebop are great examples of how traditional animation can take aerial combat in anime to a new level.
BUT, Kawamori has shown us time and again that he doesn't like to repeat in Macross. Look at the original TV series to DYRL and then compare DYRL to Flashback 2012. That's three different styles right there. Add in Plus and then the 7 series and you've got an ever-changing style with the same series.
Regarding the "magic" issue: this wasn't too surprising to me, especially after watching the Macross 7 OVA series. I'm not saying that the 7 OVA series was heavily saturated with this "magic-power" theme, but it did have a more spiritual/mystical taste to it. While Kawamori might not use the same animation style in each of the series, similar themes are prominently recurring.