I've said this before (in fact, I just said it in the Daphne thread)....Niles caters to his women because Niles is a weenie!
Though really, Niles has really spent his entire life trying to please people and be accepted.
Think about it. He probably spent a good share of his childhood trying to please his father and trying to live up to his older brother whom he probably perceived as being "mom's" favorite!
Niles, in his professional life then, deals with conflict on a daily basis. In his personal life, he doesn't like conflict. He just wants everyone happy and doesn't want to cause any strife. In order to do that, you just go along with whatever anyone tells you to do! You don't want to upset the apple cart! Please the people around you and everyone is happy!
Truth be told, I've spent a good share of my own life dealing with that conflict thing! I hate conflict in my personal life. I hate it when people argue around me and I just want things happy and settled. In my job, I'm constantly dealing with conflict. But otherwise, it's a very difficult thing for me to deal with and for a long time, people just sort of walked on my feelings because I didnt' want to upset things or people. I'm better about that now but I still struggle with expressing my feelings because I don't want to upset people or hurt anyone! I'm a lot like Niles in that way! I readily admit that when it comes to some things, I'm a weenie!