Hey :)
There's beards and then there's beards ! I agree that there has to be some kind of 'thinking' behind making the choice.
Some are manicured, which does fit in with a trend.
Some are messy, with no effort at all to tame it which does kinda suggest 'can't be bothered'
Some are just might fine and all the significent men in my life at some point have had a beard, my son is currently sporting one, and they haven't let me down, they've just fancied a change.Like us women with new hairstyles and colours I suppose.
Partial to a bit of designer as well...my face isn't though ;)