> I've worked with that I did not, at the time, appreciate but grew to appreciate later on.

Exactly right. People are complicated and liking or disliking them is adjacent to whether or not they are 'good' at their job.

I've known people who sucked at their job, but doing the same job in a different environment were stars. That experience led me to disassociate what people do as part of their job from the person themselves. And I can respect someone for doing a good job, even when I find their personal attitude or motivations distasteful.

Complicated.