I am not surprised that coming from a girl.
First I haven't seen a cross gender friend-ship as good as same gender ones. Its mostly girls clinging to boys.
Second guys TALK SHYT about girls who are not related to them. Only we have a code. Girls wont know it.
Third boys who take girl out without a commitment. Don't respect them!!!!!!!!! The way they would respect their future wife. Mind it, being polite and friendly is not equal to respecting in a manner you deserve.
Forth in case you have many male friends. Your best bet is to find a hubby among one of them. We guys are not into figuring out your different level of affection towards men. So a guy outside of your immidiate circle is going to look at you as TAKEN!!! If not by a man then taken by many men.
Fifth. Normally the girls who hang out with guys are not normally very attractive. Other wise they wont be single for a long time.
I don't have 'many' male friends but the ones I had (college over dosti over!) were more of a brotherly nature and I wouldn't ever believe whatever you said about guys' mentality being held true for them..but I wouldn't disbelieve your research either..
Not all girls 'cling' or 'hang out' with boys all the time with flirtatious intentions, there are these girls who behave cordially with boys on professional terms provided they're decent and mature enough! The type of girls you cited are what we call 'bimbettes' and not all girls are like that!