Anything after Zero wasn't the same for me. Like Do You Remember Love is the perfect anime movie. Plus was the perfect anime sequel where the director predicts the future about idol culture and how everything will be more manufactured/cult like in the industry?
Also keep in mind Macross created the whole concept of the idol. At least, a fictional one, so Macross: Do You Remember Love/The Original series introducing the world to idols while Plus is like "Back-up! We should probably discuss the ramifications" and just NAILING it is so fitting (also Walter White voices the protagonist).
Meanwhile Zero's like "Let's take it back, strip things down, and show you the beauty of song on a religious level" which is admirable af.
I've only seen one episode of Macross 7, but I got down with a lot of the aspects and the whole concept of music not working anymore is hilarious.
I am bummed out that Macross II isn't canon (and in an alternate universe) anymore because I love the concept of aliens being like "AW YEAH SON. WE'RE UNSTOPPABLE WITH MUSIC/CULTURE! LET'S WEAPONIZE IT! CULTURE WARS SON!". Like every species went through their own "Do You Remember Love?".
I can't get down with Frontier and Delta. The franchise turned into what Plus warned against and I can't get down with it. I heard Frontier was really great? But the new artstyle wasn't killin' it.
They restored the Orguss timeline tho which is great.