Why doesn't Judas Priest get any respect?

They are one band who have been up there (and pretty much no 1) in my list of favourite bands and are one band, for many years, have been highly controversial.

They are highly respected for many reasons:

1. They have been around for a long time, since the early 1970s;
2. They have many classic albums (see (1) below), though some 'cheesy' ones too (like Turbo for instance);
3. They have survived in the face of many 'trends' including Punk, Disco, Rap and Dance, and many 'trends' within Heavy Metal itself (like Glam, Thrash, Death, Black and Nu Metal).  In other words, they have stood the 'test of time';
4. They have also survived in the face of many 'knockers' and naysayers, and have successfully defended themselves (in most instances) and their genre from all the outside (ie non-metal) forces, as well as those 'knockers' from withing who have accused them of being 'gay' or lame (cos they like something more 'brutal' or 'truer-than-thou');
5. And even when they have found themselves in trouble, they have had no 'special treatment' from the authorities (see (2) below)

Reasons why they are not always respected:

1. Rob Halford's 'gay biker' image - he bought his attire from a S&M shop, and even admitted to doing so.  In dressing like that, he has admitted to the rest of the world that he is/was gay long before he formally 'come out' as being gay.
2. And, worse still, he vehemently denied he was gay up to a certain point in his life, when probably something that happened in his personal life might have 'forced' him to 'come out'.  While it might have helped 'further' his cause has a 'Metal Head' (because Headbangers were meant to be 'strong'), it did not help him in whatever issues he (or anyone else) may have had regarding his sexuality.
3. Their highly controversial lyrics, including the one 'Eat me alive', which had caused an uproar with the likes of the PMRC and Moral Majority.
4. Their 'glam' image in '86 (when they released 'Turbo') - how *cheezy* is that!!!  (And to think I almost stopped being a fan of theirs then, because I thought the 'glam' image was somewhat overrated).   I must admit, though, I haven't stopped liking them though and I am still a fan.
5. The only real problem I had with it myself was their saying they 'didn't follow trends' when, in fact, they *did* follow a trend in that instance.  Everyone is 'trendy' to some extent and it is better to admit to following a (current) fashion you may like, rather than to say you are 'tr-OOO-er than thou' and then get caught out for being 'trendy' and disappointing your fans.

1. See also: 'Painkiller' by Judas Priest on YouTube (the person who wrote this on Shreddit listened to this song also and believe the band is 'awesome' because of it.
2. See the bit on Dave Holland (one of the ex-drummers from Priest who was alleged to have sexually abused one of his 'students' who was being given drumming lessons by him).