text: The polemical denunciation of us "cafeteria" types always struck me as a misguided sublimation of gluttony as a virtue, and a corresponding abandonment of the traditional doctrine that "discernment is the mother of all the virtues."
  
  "Meant to convey something of importance" is key here. Jesus, the authors of the NT, and the Fathers, all men raised in a sexist environment that privileged males and masculinity, no doubt had the best of intentions, regarding Love, Mercy and other fine things; but if they thought insistence on the male identity of the Persons of the Trinity was an adequate way to convey all those fine things, well, it seems they were at least as much passing along the prejudices of their societies, rather than getting to the "something of importance."
  
  BTW there's no need to be cynical here. It wouldn't be fair to accuse them of seeking deliberately to crush the dignity, equality and aspirations of women. They were what they were, children of their times.