After Connery (who was selected to fit the original concept), the following Bonds has been focus group Bonds.

If you a want mirror on what Hollywood thinks is the current 'manly man' then look at the Bond of that time.

Consider the male leads of yore (not that they played Bond):

Ask yourself if John Wayne would be an icon today?  Answer... nope.

Or even a better example, how about Bogart?

Those guys looked natural in a fist fight,  holding a pistol or being a babe magnet.

I think Roger Moore looked and acted like a dandy;  but, he had a following.

Brosnan had a better edge but still didn't look good holding a gun in formal wear.

Still, there was an acceptance of each, of the above, because they were a reflection of the manhood of the male movie-goer of the time.

For Craig to publicly state that he hates guns means it was a calculated statement for press release.  In some focus group or other, it was considered that most young males (and the females attending the films with them) also hate guns.  Instead of the handgun being a necessary vehicle, it now becomes (publicly) a hated prop that is a sidelight to the attraction of the film.

The only Bond I didn't like was

              George Lazenby
Born: Sept. 9, 1939
Birthplace: New South Whales,
                Australia
Played Bond: 1969

And that's fine, 'cause, after all, they are just movies.

It has been suggested that the concept from the original Fleming book series was closer to Roger Moore.

Then again, Ronald Reagan was eyed for Casablanca.

However, when the final selection was made by the producers, Bogey and Connery got the nod and we are left with two of the greatest film characters of all time:  Bogart as Rick and Connery as Bond.

I am not putting down other Bonds (well, maybe Moore).  But Connery, ex-sailer, body builder and coffin polisher, merely has to stand there with a juxtaposed, puckish grin, fronting a formal 'tux', tailored to a chiseled frame and... well, match that.

Wasn't Sean Connery voted Sexest Man of the year as well as being Knighted in the UK.

Yes.  And I think he was 60 years old at the time.

(Kind of like me... aging real well, <cough, cough>).