I think you're referring to bags other than the official empeg-embroidered carrying case. Some of the other bags I've seen do somewhat resemble a purse. But not the original empeg case.

Rob: In the US, it's just a style thing that men don't carry purses. Seeing a man carrying a purse in the US would be just about as strange as seeing a man wearing a dress. I mean, you do see both of those things occasionally, it's just not very common (except in a few select places )

That's what I like about the official empeg-embroidered carrying case. First of all, it looks nothing like a purse. Instead it looks like it might perhaps be a camera carrying case. Second, it doesn't have a shoulder strap, which is really the main thing that makes something look like a purse.