The way it sounds like from that interview is Aonuma does have an idea where Zelda games fits in a story with his quote "we can tell each other “oh yes, we can make it fit here”. Only it sounds like he first makes the Zelda game then finds where it sounds logical in the current storyline (rather than know in advance where the game takes place then makes the game). Like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle and seeing where this piece (game) fits in a never ending boundless puzzle (storyline). With BoTW I guess the puzzle piece (game) just doesn't have any real connecting sides with the rest of what has been created so its placed on the side for now.

Personally I don't care where it fits in the storyline and thought Zelda for a long time didn't even have one.

Rip

Zelda timeline was the best thing about the Zelda franchise D:

I'm probably one of the few fans that likes the timeline, as it's basically been a nice bonus for those of us who like the lore. They don't really hold the games back, as this interview confirms, but it adds extra value for people who like the connections. For example, the Hero's Shade in Twilight Princess is a cool recurring character for those new to the franchise, but knowing the timeline adds a whole new layer to the character. Link and Zelda's recurrence can be seen as a random set up, or it can be seen as a deep eternal connection between Hylia and her chosen hero. The nice thing about a timeline like this is being able to enjoy the games with or without deep knowledge of them.

Also, never really understood why the split timeline is considered convoluted. The downfall timeline aside, Ocarina ends by showing both Present and Future Hyrule continuing to exist normally, so even in the game itself two timelines are confirmed.

True zelda doesn't need a timeline, but it would make the franchise feel better to me to be connected in someway, despite being 1 timeline or 3. I just like connected stories personally.