I am only half Asian, but I will reply anyway. I don't mind if a guy has a preference for Asian girls; everybody has different tastes. For example, my best friend's dad just doesn't find Asian women attractive and there is no reason why any Asian girl should be offended by that because that is simply how he is and it is only a preference. I don't see why your friends should be offended by guys preferring Asian women over girls of other races. I'm sure blonde girls don't get offended when a guy says he has a "thing" for blondes, so why should Asians be offended when a guy says he has a "thing" for Asians?
As for the status symbol thing; I don't see how knowing some random people have a "thing" for your race/hair/eye colour/body type or whatever makes you any more important than anyone else. In fact I think it is actually quite sad that some people base all their worth on whether others find them hot or not. I am a hapa/Eurasian and I know that in Asia they are all the rage and millions think they are amazingly hot, but I don't go around boasting about it or thinking I am superior to everyone because I am a hapa. I am proud of who I am because I am me, not because I fit into a group of people who are stereotyped as being beautiful and idolised in Asia.
Damn, I need to get to Asia.