Bottom line. I think the real issue for the old school macross fans (like me) is that they tried too hard to impress us all with these movies. And It feels like the main story is just an excuse to show us all the cool stuff, you know like with transformers movies.
But in the series is the other way aroud. It was the story that got me interested From episode 1 to 25. Don't get me wrong I am a mechaporn sucker, but for me that's just the icing on the cake when you already have a great story with great characters.