Gold Trumpet, I think I understand your dislike of the film, but that's just one way to look at it. I think the reason I (and so many others) love the movie so much is because of the redemptive qualities. This screwed up asshole who had a horrible upbringing is redeemed by love. Technically, it's the same thing as Punch Drunk Love (not that the two films are similar at all in any other way, but you get my point). What made Billy Brown such a wonderful character was his hang-ups. He'd never even really kissed a girl before. He couldn't put his feelings in words, he was afraid of human contact just as much as he wanted it. He was an A-hole, yes, but he was also somewhat damaged. The movie is so beautiful because, rather than go down the narrow, destructive path indicated in the hallucination/dream sequence, he chooses love, and, for the first time in his life, he gets it returned to him.
That kind of compassion for the character indicates to me that Gallo might not be the complete prick in real life that he usually comes off as.
The movie means a lot to me; don't know if my explanation came off too well, though.
And David Lynch is not hokey or hoaky.