Were the Istari already old men...?

[Alfirin]

Originally Posted by Eönwë

This is actually an interesting point. Would Elves even think like that? It imagine they (at least at first) would not know how to deal with the (comparatively) rapid degeneration of Men over time (both physically and mentally). It doesn't really look like Elves age in the same way. To them beards on an immortal would mean wisdom.

Valid enough, though I might question how many bearded individuals the average Middle Earth elf would have seen in their lifetimes. It sounds like it takes a LOONG time for an elf to reach that "third stage" when he gets his chin fuzz. By that time, it seems like most elven men have either been slain (in more warish times) or wearied and set sail for the west. We know Cirdan has a beard, but he is old even by ME elven standards. Elrond (cartoon not withstanding) doesn't have one yet, even though I suppose it is possible that having mannish blood in him to he may get his a bit earlier than would be normal for an elf, life choice or no). I think it is entirely possible that, for the average elf, Cirdan would be the first and only bearded member of their race they ever saw, barring scenes from the seventh stone (since the elves can and do use the seventh Palantir to sneak glances at the west, they may occasionally get to see those elves who stray into the line of sight. Since at least some of these would be elves who made the journey ages ago and so are pretty old I imagine chin hair is a bit more common there.). To most what's his name who grew a beard when he was in his second age (which I suppose means that, in your context, he was "wise before his years") would be a distant memory to them if indeed any had been born long enough ago to remember him.
Oh and thanks Inziladun for reminding me about Théoden having one. I knew he had one in the movies (both live and cartoon) but they are so unreliable on this matter (the cartoon one has Elrond, Aragorn and Denethor with facial hair) that I have gotten into the habit of not trusting any of them in this matter. I suppose that settles the "choice or nature" argument, assuming that the House of Eor has more or less as strong a strain of Numernorian blood as most of the Gondor families, at least SOME Numernorians can grow facial hair if they choose.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

I think it is entirely possible that, for the average elf, Cirdan would be the first and only bearded member of their race they ever saw, barring scenes from the seventh stone (since the elves can and do use the seventh Palantir to sneak glances at the west, they may occasionally get to see those elves who stray into the line of sight.

That's why I'm suggesting it might have brought them additional respect among the Elves, or at least not diminished it.