There is no conceivable debate you could bring to the table that would make Filmation mediocrity comparable to this. Better story, voice acting, animation, aesthetic, you name it. Just the conceptual process alone made it inevitable.
I don't think anything's connected until we hear confirmation of either a He-Man appearance or MOTU show. As is I wouldn't consider the repeated mentions of "Eternia" anything more than references. He-Man doesn't have to exist in the show.