Beard used to be a sign of toughness, now there's too many computer programmer pussies wearing them.
It's like the name Jake. In the pastf you knew a Jake, he was likely a good guy you'd have a beer with, who could also bowl and chop down a tree or lend you money in a pinch, even if he didn't have much.
Now every child is named Jake, with most of them being short for Jacob, so the name is completely diluted.