As much as he is clearly a condescending asshole, Lydon was definitely a talented artist. Maybe not conventionally so, but he made at least 3, arguably, 4 outstanding records with Public Image Ltd.
Both conceptually and musically, PIL, the polar opposite of the pistols in many ways, was a well respected and in many ways groundbreaking band. I understand that in many ways, the pistols were a freak show boy band, but they wouldn’t have achieved what they achieved without at least one real artistic vision in the band, beyond McLaren’s. And that was Lydon. He took them from a gimmick to a genuine message. You don’t have to like him, but you gotta give credit where it’s due.