"Well, thanks for actually confirming that the creators DID mean to have a Korrasami ending.

The problem I have, even more than the actual same-sex pairing itself, is the insinuation that (1) anyone who thinks the pairing was "forced" is either overtly homophobic or somehow not open-minded enough, which this quote seems to imply:

That's basically a way to stifle any actual critique of the way the show played out by implying that those who don't think this ending was set up well, are homophobic, too invested in a heteronormative worldview, etc.
This is what upsets me the most with Bryke's statement. Just because someone disapproves of the homosexual lifestyle doesn't mean we're hateful. I find it strange though when he talked about viewers having a heteronormative worldview. I'm heterosexual, it's the only perspective that I know. I've held hands with women before, blushed when they compliment me. That doesn't mean I'm in love with them. How else am I suppose to interpret those gestures but platonic?"

But you're right in that calling people who disagree as homophobes is actually shutting down any meaningful discussion of the story from the narrative standpoint. If they have to spell it out for viewers what their intentions were in the "romance" department, then I'm sorry but that's just bad writing.