...then again I do believe there are people for whom their phobia is (consciously or otherwise) a carefully guarded precious thing and woe betide anyone who tries to take it away.
I think I agree with AP. Whilst phobias can be very real and frightening for some people, I think the term 'phobia' should be distinguished from 'don't like' or 'not very keen on'. It is for this very reason that I have a visceral aversion to the term 'homophobia'. Fear and dislike are two different things.