Why does it have to be to get back into his favor? He could just be speaking honestly. I'm not saying you're wrong but I just think that's an unnecessary assumption.
Morrissey used to speak very highly of Joyce as well as of the rest of the guys. If not for the money thing I have a very hard time believing he would have ever made a disparaging remark about Joyce at all, in 23 years. He wanted Joyce and Rourke to continue with him, after all, and for awhile they did.
I think Joyce did genuinely enjoy his time in The Smiths and he has always spoken very bluntly about his respect and admiration for Morrissey and he has no reason to pretend otherwise. Morrissey is the one who likes to rewrite the past but I don't know who believes his bullshit at this point.
The money thing, I mean...whatever, that's between them. But honestly as time goes by, even though I don't agree with several aspects of Joyce's suit, I'd say the concept that Morrissey shoots from the hip where cash is concerned is definitely pretty sketchy. It's not like Joyce is the only one that has had problems over the years.