I think that's a strange question. Considering it's been documented that he knows he's over the top (or a 'dick', if you will), I don't think calling him out as such makes a person less intelligent. He's a dick, and he knows it. I don't think you're any less intelligent for calling a spade a spade.
But, that's one of his arguments of course. Why do we still need to walk on egg shells when discussing religion? There's no evidence to support a higher power exists; but it affects most peoples' lives in one way or another. Also, considering the fact that dealing with the ultra religious is like talking to a brick wall: what's the point of holding your tongue?
Really, I only take issue with people that dislike his personality, and therefore discredit the rest of his work as a whole. It's especially ridiculous when people make the claim that he's an unaccomplished scientist. Browsing his wikipedia page for 30 seconds proves this to be completely and utterly wrong.
Last point first. As has been noted he's made past contributions to his field which have been recognized. His academic work isn't being questioned, however I do not find him to be among the first tier of scientific researchers. He's good, but he's not really really good in the sense I'm thinking. He's not a Pauli or a Hawking nor even a Penrose. Therefore his works while significant to me do not suggest true genius. Well one can argue what that means, and I'm not attempting to put him down in this regard, merely stating my views. I'll not say he has no historical professional standing.
That however does not mitigate his attacks on others with whom he disagrees. I mentioned Collins, and while the use of "excommunication" was obviously selective hyperbole, the fact remains that regardless of Collins' professional history, his ability to do good science, he obvious qualifications as a manager in important scientific projects he dismissed him as unqualified. If Collins had any hint of letting his religious beliefs (which does not include doubting evolution if you didn't know nor any other scientific theory) influencing his work no one has ever been able to demonstrate it in the slightest. In other cases people who are agnostic or atheists who contend that the consideration of spiritual matters is a valid consideration have likewise received scorn.
That's my problem with the man. There's absolutely no reason to take gross abuses like the Westboro Church people, or those in Afghanistan who killed because Korans were burned in a way which was intended to be respectful. Those sorts need no coddling. Bash away.
Then we have another group that believes that the Bible is not only inspired by God, but that everything that is written is literal and takes precedence over all other considerations including painstakingly gathered and examined evidence. I learned long ago that there's not much point in a conversation. As my father used to say in a tongue in cheek way "don't confuse me with facts, my mind is already made up." I won't even try. My personal beliefs though is that science is something which we use to make our world larger and fuller. It's something we value and I sometimes get into the "hey this is really really cool" mode when talking to someone about it. I don't understand why one would want to use it as a bludgeon against another. That's me. It's something that's enlightening and uplifting. It's really really cool.
So is it frustrating when people have no imagination or show no interest? You bet it is. How attacking them advances it or discourse in general is beyond me. Making a career out of it? No thanks.
Now there's the next level where people have some kind of spiritual faith, a belief in something intangible, and larger than themselves. They don't argue against science, but when something new comes along they accept it and reevaluate their understanding of the world. Some in fact are very good scientists. I'm not sure what about them deserves scorn, but some have it in them to be that way.
I suppose that the science in itself is the reward as far as I'm concerned, and certainly there's no compelling reason to accept everything, and indeed take anything that comes along as acceptable, but I find people who take something like science and use it as a weapon for notoriety and profit to be as offensive as one who profits from the hatred of any other group. Again YMMV.
That's my perspective.