I think it's an important distinction to make. Because it does means that you can actually infer true things from his statements (or a journalists statements, as news orgs do this kind of "lying" a lot), unlike with a habitual liar.

I don't agree. There is little to learn from Musk's statements. And lumping all of journalism as being as dishonest as Musk is just plain silly. Sure, if you're on the right the media which is biased towards yoi has been serving you dishonesty and lies for a long time. But that's not journalism as a whole.

Saying "he really believes his lies" is not excuse, because most habitual liars are exactly the same. They have prioritized their own narcissism so far above reality, but that doesn't make them any less of a liar. They are just lying to themselves and everyone else.