Actually, that's not entirely true. If you're not religious and don't need other people to sanction your relationship, you can have just as strong a bond without marriage.

Marriage is an institution, not a panacea or a relationship builder.

While many are motivated by marriage, others can create the same bond with a private promise to each other that has nothing to do with institutionalizing the relationship.

I have been with my partner for 16+ years. It's the best relationship I've had, and that includes two prior failed marriages.

As for the money, we would possibly have more if we married, but we like knowing we're together because we love each other and it's good for us--not because we want to profit financially from it.

However, this is a really excellent article and with the exception of this one point, I agree with everything you've written here.