I remember especially during the Oasis years and the Gallagher brothers slagging him off at every turn as well as the fax story. Even 10 years ago out of the spotlight articles would often mock him and his music.
As his music has been used in film and adverts recently as well as his greatest hits being in the album charts last couple of months. Personally I quite like his music but can see why others might not.

Do you think public opinion has swung back in his favour?

I always rated Phil Collins, even when he was a bit of a laughing stock. Recent tv programmes about Genesis seem to have turned things around for him

It wasn't really about Genesis it was his solo output.

Oasis slagging off Phil Collins meant nothing to him. He had long earned his reputation as a top musician/drummer and decent vocalist. He did get lazy in the 80s as he saw a way how to make a fast buck and sold himself out, giving the impression that he couldn't care less when former fans began to question his attitude. But anyone who followed Phil Collins and Genesis in the 70s would have been well aware of his musical talent and capabilities and he's one guy in the business who deserved every success.

I'm not sure it didn't mean anything to him the Oasis part as he put the Gallaghers into Room 101 and has gone back and forth about it in quite a lot of interviews for a very long time though more specifically against Noel.
He believes it's Oasis mentioning false information on his politics/tax and personal character and the fax story that turned the tide against him in Britain and I read an interview recently where their criticism got him down and he found it too personal. I believe part of that was in his Q interview recently though can't remember. Perhaps they in turn influenced the press at the time as they were a big force in British culture for a time.

I agree with your post though about finding a selling point in the 80's and so maybe as a solo artist this is why he came in for a backlash. I think he must be appealing again to British buyers if his greatest hits is back in the charts.

He's certainly not going to be cool any time soon, but I don't think he's as reviled as he used to be. I was still at school when 'In the Air Tonight' was used on the Cadbury's advert a few years ago, and I remember quite a few people at school really liking the song - because of the advert, naturally, but he certainly wasn't seen as too embarrassing or uncool then! For what it's worth, I think 'In the Air Tonight' is a great song, and he has a few other solo gems too, but most of his solo stuff (from what I've heard) is quite bland and cheesy.

I was always under the impression that he had a bad reputation for his schmaltzy 80s/90s solo output, so he was just seen as a bit cringey by critics and a lot of 'serious' music fans. Also, a lot of fans of Peter Gabriel-era Genesis blame him for steering the band in a much poppier direction in the 80s - although the first couple of Phil Collins-led albums do have a good reputation.

Also, while he is definitely seen as 'uncool', he's always had a big fanbase - aside from a blip with 'Testify' in 2002, his albums have always done very well in the charts.

I'm not sure as in the UK 'Both Sides' in 1993 went 2 x platinum then Oasis and other acts and media (fax story) came in 1994 the following year.
1996 'Dance into the light' went gold a big drop off from multi-platinum and 'Testify' in 2002 was gold as was 'Going Back' in 2010. Neither soundtrack album charted in the UK 'Tarzan' or 'Brother Bear'.
I think that shows a lot of people during this time frame abandoned his new output as their perception of him changed probably from the backlash.

However his compilation albums have sold well recently and a new generation are hearing his hits in the UK and away from the mocking press of a few years ago.

he never was a joke/laughingstock on my side of the world

True enough, this whole thread is news to me.

Over here, the only thing that really comes to mind when mentioning Phil Collins is the cheesy 80-style gated snare..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6L_BG0Qhg0

Not when used on PG's 3rd album it wasn't

That line of thought always bothers me to a point as while Phil did sing all the Genesis big hits. Nothing in Genesis was done without Tony Banks agreement. It was Tony Banks who used to shout about his songs and he was one of the main reasons Steve Hackett left. That was the turning point for Genesis rather than Peter Gabriel leaving.

As others have said Genesis never completely 'sold out' due to the collaborative nature of the band; sentimental stuff like Hold on My Heart was always balanced out by deeper songs like No Son Of Mine or Land of Confusion.

Phil collins solo stuff on the other hand..