Great post, Charlatan! You gave some good ideas that I might use when I decide to settle down.
Abaya, I can understand why women might get impatient and start dropping hints, but not pop the question themselves. Perhaps, they're just as afraid as men, but would rather get into it (marriage) sooner, to get the stress over with and move on, while men are content with how things are beforehand and don't see that stress.