If you're saying "settling" means taking whatever's available, are you willing to do that?
It's a crock. Younger women may have an ideal, but when they say "I won't settle...", in my experience they're talking about specific criteria, maybe. Why would you take offense at a woman who, for example, won't take a guy who's not at least as intelligent as she is? Or a guy who doesn't communicate? Sometimes men take things too literally.
If you read the Ladies' thread, I don't think it was often referring to settling for less than perfect. For me, older and wiser, I'm more open minded. I dropped the "tall dark and handsome" a long, long time ago. But he's got to at least be sharp, self-sufficient and able to communicate. Anything less wouldn't even be settling. I'm sure a majority of the ladies would agree that they have at least a few items on their list. From what you've posted since I've been around, you've got some criteria yourself.
I doubt you'd deviate from that.