I haven't been watching the show regularly for a while, but I used to, and I'm pretty sure that's exactly what's meant to be happening. Every time you begin to despise him he throws off a feat of brilliance and perhaps even hidden compassion... and every time you begin to think he might not be a complete jackass after all, he does something so ridiculously petty that even a horribly spoiled five-year-old would scorn to sink so low. House is a show for people who like roller coasters, I think.