ETA: With the growing number of men who refuse to pick up every check, plan every date/event, act as sole provider for the family, purchase gifts regularly for their other half, etc. for fear of marrying a woman who is too focused on money... I'm really beginning to wonder what women are getting out of this marriage deal anymore.
Sure, if what you want from a relationship is things, stuff, and to not have to work, more power to you... But I have no respect for you.
That is, if I have to sit quietly, look pretty, and clean house, what am I getting in return? Not much these days.
Because I sure would if my spouse kept buying me things just so I'd put out.
My point, anyway, is that the men in the WSJ article cheering this drivel on are often the same guys who don't want to assume the traditional provider role for men. They don't want a wife, they want a maid that "puts out".
I could roll with "fuck it, let's neither of us clean". I want a wife, not a barracks inspector.
That said, you have a point. Outside of child-bearing (and even there...) marriage seems less and less useful. I don't see this as a bad thing, but YMMV.