Women's equality is a western concept. Our Vedic religion and scriptures do given women their respectable place of honour. So, the question of concept of equality does not arise. In the name of modernisation and liberalisation, don't forget to respect / uphold the age-old traditions.
As for your point "Lord Ayyappa does not hate women", you are only indulging in rabble-rousing. While Lord Ayyappa does not discriminate between man and woman, it is HIS words that are to be believed, according to which the tradition of not allowing women is maintained.
If one is a true Hindu, one will certainly respect traditions. (Don't blindly bring half-baked western concepts into our Vedic religion). If one is not, he/she has nothing to lose and hence one will only be inclined to bluff what comes to one's mind.
Innovation & Creativity in sampradaya matters only spell doom to the society.
