I've been compared to Petty - several times. I never saw the resemblance myself but I was always flattered. I thought him an affable hippy-sort of carefree guy (again, not much comparison to my quiet and more intense demeanor).
I liked many of his songs and from time to time featured them in my bands. Free-Falling, Don't Do Me Like That, Learning to Fly, Refuge, Mary Jane (I like to do that one bluegrass-style).
Damned shame.
RIP Tom