Good links Dan. Wow, what a difference in those guys!
I grew a beard hiking the Appalachian Trail and haven't shaved it off since. I love it. I love not shaving. And originally I thought girls (other than hiker chicks) wouldn't like it, but I was wrong.
See this guy --->
Doesn't he look like "I'm cool", "I'm an artist", laid back, artsy job, fun to be around, a woodsman, an outdoorsman, more knowledgeable, handy, attractive, virile, and manly???
I think it oozes out of my pores.
My MOM even likes my beard! Mother approved = win.
on edit:
jamestl2, on a serious note, maybe what's happening right now is you're noticing a part of yourself in these other men. A part of you that you want to give expression to now (see the list above compiled from everyone's responses). Let yourself explore the laid back side of you, the outdoorsman, the virile part of self and see what happens. Also, try some conditioner in your beard and see if that softens it up. I would say the itchiness might be resistance to those traits above.