I think it has its basis in biology, like women's preference for height. The reason I think this is because men's preference for virgins seems to cross cultural and religious lines, just like women's preference for height (and resources/money, for that matter).
The question is why. It's probably a protective measure on the part of men to assure a better life for the offspring. Women who have been with a lot of men are more likely to be a flight risk and not stick around, therefore damaging the lives of the kids.
Statistics on divorce bear this out. The more partners a woman has, the more likely divorce is. Below are some sources for this info. Even the commies at the Atlantic seem to agree.
Right. Also, if you marry a virgin, you'll always be the best sex she's ever had, the most handsome man she's ever been with. With a low N count girl, depending on your SMV, you can still be #1.
Let's say she's had 10 to 20 sexual partners or more. Well, one dude was more adventurous than you, another was taller, another was smarter, another had a bigger dick, another had a smaller, more comfortable dick that didn't require as much lube, another had a bigger wallet, another was more serious, another was more nonchalant, another had better hair, another was more boyish-looking, another was more manly-looking, another was more well-spoken, another was more the silent type, another had a better ass, another liked to go down on her for hours, another had better legs, another was more sociable, another had better arms, another had a better smile, another had better teeth, another had nicer eyes, another had a better jaw, another was more into the things she's into, another went along with her family more, another stood up to her family more, another was better at sex, etc. It never ends, the point is you'll always come up short in one area or another.
With a virgin, you are always #1 in every single sphere.
Why be #2, #3, #4, #10, #20, #30, #40 in the various spheres she'll be assessing you by. So that you have the privilege of having to try harder every single day to be her very own perfect man that no one can be?
It's absurd. F*** that noise.
Improve yourself, by all means, but get a low N count girl and make your life less of a headache, being with a woman and raising a family is a challenge in and of itself without having 40 other dicks she's had close and personal experience with cluttering up her mindspace.
You've got to be a masochist to be into that.
"Just be better than every guy at everything and you'll be fine." Sounds good, dude, have at it, take the high N count girl, be my guest, I'm not interested in that noise.
Also, keep in mind that being "better than every dude at everything" is impossible. Why? Because let's say you're more distant than every other dude she's been with, so she's into that about you. Well on Monday she wants a caring and kind dude. Guess what, Bob, contestant #17, was better than you at that. Time for texting time with Bob. Let's say you spend a lot of time every day at the gym. Well on Tuesday she wants someone that isn't away from her so much. Ed, contestant # 10, was into staying home and Netflixing with her and smoking joints. Time for Facebook time with Ed. Then it's Wednesday and she wants someone that's into being a foodie. But you've got your gym diet/regimen to maintain. Oh, what about Johnny, contestant #13? Time for Snapchat time with Johnny.
You could be a well off businessman with game and there will still be something her drug dealing ex can give her that you can't. Or vice versa, you could be a drug dealing guy with game and there will still be something her businessman ex can give her that you can't.
The point is there's no way to be the best man at everything, and even if there was a way to be the best at everything, you still couldn't be that because "the best" is fluid. Women are crazy enough to want completely opposing values in the same guy on different days of the week.
If you want to be with a woman that's easy to be around, aim for one with the lowest N count you can get and that has the happy gene.