However, contrast Egwene's response to learning his secret (she immediately embraces him and says it doesn't change a thing about who he is), with Mat's (Gaaah! I'm sleeping somewhere else!). Perrin's response was a bit more friendly-ish, I'll admit. But still, Mat and Rand have been friends since they were babies. Egwene he has only known well in the recent past.

Later, when Perrin develops his own far-from-being-the-Anti-anything secret, he's ashamed to tell his friends. Again, it is Egwene who responds as a friend (granted, she was there at the time he first learned the news).

And please don't compare sisterly bonds here, it only makes my point stronger! Namely, that women form fast friendships in Randland both pre- and post-Rand, but instances of close male companionship seems to have been a very rare thing pre-Rand (incidentally, my post was explicitly about the world pre-Rand; your comments about Thom and Juilin's friendship are valid, but again, they were brought together by Rand and Lan; pre-Rand, both were loners).

Frankly, regarding 'realistic' world-building, this was always something that seemed, at first glance, to be somewhat unrealistic to me, except that I think it was intentional. Charismatic men are immediately assumed to be evil; there's just a pervasive sense in Randland that all men are untrustworthy, possibly due to Red Ajah influence. Meanwhile, the Whitecloaks have been spitting in the eye of White Tower influence (and opinion of men) for years--although their own moral compass has been pointing due south lately.

So, back to my original pondering: post-Last Battle, will there be female Children of the Light? Some amalgamation of the Tinkers and the White Cloaks as a practical, yet peaceful organization?