&gt;\[W\]hat do you think of a man who turns down the opportunity for sex on the first date?  

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't upset the few times it's happened to me but like you said in the beginning; women vary a lot in their philosophy when it comes to sleeping together after dates, so why shouldn't the same apply to men? 

&gt; Do you think less of him as a man? 

Why would I think any less of a man for preferring to take it slow? 

&gt; Do you think it shows maturity? 

Possibly. It depends on the reason. 

&gt; Does it make you think he finds you unattractive? 

Yes, the few times it's happened to me I thought it was because they didn't find me attractive. (I have insecurities about my height, skin color etc)

&gt; Do women just simply handle rejection worse than men do? 

Absolutely. Men don't have to rely on their looks as a general rule when looking for partners. (There are exceptions but generally men pursue women at first because of their looks.) We do, so kissing but no sex probably made them feel like you were trying to do it for their sake when you didn't find them attractive whatsoever.