I agree that part of the problem comes from the "k*d in the candy store" phenomenon, but that's still no excuse.
Many of these guys are otherwise bright human beings. Presumably they have good jobs, own businesses or otherwise have wealth; they couldn't travel to C.R. if they did not.
If this is true, what happens to these guys' brains when they hit town?
None of them would probably pester gringas for p4p in the U.S., so are they a.) so ignorant/badly educated or b.) so racist that they think these Latinas are somehow "beneath" them ,that these gringos think they can sexually proposition any chica they meet?
My response to any gringo who is being an asshole to the locals is to smile and ask, "First time here, huh?" If they question me as to my comment, I can then make observations about their behavior. I try not to get confrontational and to treat everything with a sense of humor, but if a fellow gringo is being totally rude or obnoxious, I'll make my opinion of his behavior known.
We educate by example more than by words of course, so I hope that this choir that is being preached to will remember always to be good Boy Scouts and to remember that each of us is an ambassador from our home countries.
There's an upside to all of this. Yes, the economic realities of Central America work to our benefit. For those seeking "real romance," it's not hard to find, but Costa Rica has certain rules and norms for "courting" that must be followed.
My dear old Mom always told me, "Life is a two-way street," which applies here. It's down to the Golden Rule. Treat her with the same respect you desire for yourself.
Simple, so why do so many guys just not "get it?"