Well, I can't speak for anyone else, I can only speak for me. One of my best friends in the world is a woman, and we've been buds ever since we were 9 years old, and we're in our 40's now. Call me silly, but I think would have resented it if a woman I was dating would have insisted I give up a life-long friendship like that. It never would have gotten to marriage, because it would have been such a huge red flag while dating that this woman was just too insecure for marriage.
again, I will repeat what I said, when you're talking about friendships forged in childhood, that's a bit different than friendships forged in adulthood, via the workplace or otherwise.