I don't think women realize the emotional toll it takes on a man to settle for an ugly woman. I've tried before and I've ended up nearly in tears I felt so degraded.

This is an interesting attestation that I'm not sure I've heard before.

Care to expand on why settling for a less attractive woman takes an emotional toll?

Is it personal shame and disappointment you feel personally for not achieving better? Social stigma for having someone less valued attached to yourself?

My limited personal experience with dating less attractive women is that they didn't act any more humble or appreciative (I wish I could come up with a better term) and had expectations and demands as though they were of higher status anyway.