it was said.... I think Ron Howard's point was that 'working thru the problem' was so to point, emotionless, that from the recorded tapes the professionalism was so profound it didn't lend itself well to a screenplay..
BUT.. good question. I don't really know if that line was said... something tells me I've 'heard' it... and I think it was included in Lovell's book... now look what you've done, I have to do research.