That reply is pretty measured considering the topic of women's preferences was already set. They weren't going out of their way to hate on women.

People can be pretty shallow creatures, men and women alike. So obviously, whilst money or beauty is not the be all and end all, it allows people to make a better first impression and pass some initial filters. Denying that is just deluding yourself.

Obviously there are always going to be exceptions, some people are actively repulsed by wealth or the current beauty standards