I am glad you brought up this topic.  Some of the practices in our religion/culture are a result of the wrong interpretation of the holy texts while some are because of the ignorance and illiteracy prevailing on our society. And, there are some stuffs on the text which may not apply to the present context. How long ago do you think those Vedas were written? Obviously, some of the things wouldnot apply to the present day. There is no doubt there are some practices which makes a woman feel inferior and I dont think bowing to husband's feet is one of them. Let me tell you why. If you recall, all the people in your family has been bowing to your feet ever since you were born(i m assuming your a girl).  Even after you get married and when you go back to your parents home, they still do the same thing. Your brother,mother,uncle,father everybody puts their head on your feet. I bow my head to the feet of my sisters,parents and I dont feel like I have been slave to my sisters and parents. We show our respect that way. Since we developed as a patriarchal society, obviously you are obliged to do more things for your husband.  There are some dumb head husbands in our socities who are ignorant and feel proud and make their wives do lot of non sense stuffs but thats not the actual picture. There is a saying "चामलको बोरामा अली अली ढुङ्गा हुन्छ " and it applies to those wicked husbands. When I talk to Nepali girls, I usually ask them what do they think about that tradition? All of them said they donot have any problem doing that and "it just makes them love more" (actual excerpt so i m quoting here). Do you feel like your a slave even if he is treating you right just because you bow your head in his feet? Did your parents feel they were slaves when they bowed their head in your feet? Did you mom feel she was a slave when she bowed her head in your dad's feet? Did your sister feel she was a slave when she bowed her head in your Bhinjau's feet? Ask those questions to your self and the family memebers. Don't you see the difference how women are treated here in America vs in our culture? Since we are family oriented societies, we do lot of stuffs for each other which doesnot make any sense in western world. 
About being the sexiest, Hinduism depicts different facets of the life and sex is one of them. I donot think we have a huge influence of sex in our socities. I bet you guys are more aware of the sex postures and ways after coming here than you were back home.

p.s~ Just to make sure, I am not trying to justify the wrong doing against the women and I donot support the supremacy of Men over women. I believe women should be treated right and they deserve it.