I don't hold it in high esteem, this is what I mean, you seem to assume my perspective just like you're assuming Rollo's. Rather than keeping an open speculative mind you've classified his book as having one and only one interpretation, the one you have. I'll entertain you for a moment.
The principle is that you can not expect motherly love(which weak willed men tend to expect from a partner) without some major sacrifices to your self respect.
If it were obvious to everyone than the book would not be talked about as much as it is. It's not an indictment because there is nothing wrong with women not providing a motherly love, that is not their role. Again not a dramatic thought.
I don't remember reading anything that said men are victims. This is what I mean when I say you're attempting to read between the lines and projecting something, distorting the
message. You are projecting your opinion(you think it's hammed-up), then arguing against your own opinion. That's a straw-man.
This is not the tone I interpreted at all. I also don't praise it as gospel, but I certainly didn't sense hostility or resentment. It's a serious topic portrayed in a serious tone, which is kind of a boring read.
You don't seem open-minded, but that's my opinion. I can agree that it may come across as a bit pessimistic, but I haven't read it in a long time. Have you read any other books? I don't think I've talked to anyone here that sees it as gospel. Most people hear that do read relationship books read many and take nuggets from each. No one book is on a massive pedestal set far above the rest.
The styles cultivated here are generally sprinkled along a spectrum of two extremes. On the one end are people that will let women do pretty much anything and constantly waste precious time contemplating strategies on how to chase and qualify themselves(they try to qualify themselves to others on the forum by 'flexing nuts' in a sense), we attribute this to coming from a place of fear and scarcity, seeking an easy solution to hard internal problems, on the other end are people that have focused strictly on self improvement and letting the game and women come naturally as a by-product. Sadly some have lost hope in themselves or have become so deluded in chasing that they are doomed to forever brood in the former, sometimes BSing themselves into thinking they are chasing because they are 'alphas', sometimes becoming extremely salty and resenting women. I would say these are the ones that would see something like Rollo's work as gospel, but I would like to hope these are a minority. A more senior member will probably tell you they are the majority.
My point is interpretation is everything with relationships. The topic is so open-ended that people on this forum constantly misunderstand each other. Your interpretation of Rollo's work is appreciated, but that book is a small fish in a very big pond. Rather than criticize one book(which is easy) why not expand on and defend your 'balanced' approach to relationships. That's where the real work is done. Where is the line for you? The line between respect and disrespect? Give me something better than a vague "it has to be balanced' statement. What has to be balanced? To what degree? Why?
When you say re-calibrate it sounds like you mean to lower one's standards, is that right?