"Detest" is much too strong a word. I'm just indifferent. Not a fan. That said, I do think he contributed to some good songs during his time with VH. But have never been a fan of him or his schtick.
I think it got worse over time. The other day, I linked the Montreal boots of the '82 and '84 shows. Dave is quite different in the '84 show as he barely sings and basically just jumps around the stage, almost oblivious to what the BAND is actually doing. I can definitely see how they grew sick of his schtick.
I remember when they were on Rockline when 1984 was released. They were trying to present a party atmosphere on the show, but all they did was hoop it up and yipyap the whole time. It was quite annoying to listen to. And I was a huge fan.
As much as I remember liking Eat 'Em And Smile, and the subsequent tour, I never really stayed close to what DLR was doing. Without Eddie, he had no vehicle.
I generally enjoyed the Sammy Era. I only have my experience, but the DLR Era coincided with me coming of age, and that music resonated with me. 5150 was a bit lite for me at that time, and I was much more into metal in the late 80's. Still, I continued to buy the Van Hagar albums and go to the shows. They always remained very enjoyable.