As a former New Yorker and Long Islander now residing in Central New Jersey, I think an argument can be made here for all of the above. Most of the women whom I have met when I was living on Long Island, who say they like to be tickled, just like it. In no way does that mean that tickling plays an major part in their lives or in their relationships. Plain and simple, they just "like" to be tickled, and are not full-fledged ticklephiles, and if they say they are, they are probably young, or divorced "whales" as you say and use it as tool to attract single males, otherwise they might just be lesbians looking to be tickled by another female.