You misunderstand me. It's not that I don't believe what U2 say about their music, years later. In fact, as I said, I think it's probably a more accurate reflection of what they really think. So I do believe what what Bono said about TUF...I believe he truly thinks it was a mess, lyrically and musically. That doesn't mean I have to agree with it. Just as you are free to disagree with the comments about Pop over the years.
As far as the "Bono lies" thing...yeah, I get it. But I think he's much more likely to, um, "over-promote" a record while he's trying to sell it, as opposed to years later when he has nothing to gain. As Stephen Spielberg said (about promoting movies), "There's a time to be a human being and there's a time to sell cars".
I think anyone whose followed this band throughout the years (including you, I, and most people around here), and sorted through their various comments has a pretty good idea of where they stand on each record.
Time always sets the record straight. For all their albums.