In our professional lives we are going to encounter members of the opposite (or appropriate) sex toward whom we will develop, for want of a better word, crushes. The fact that this is never spoken of other than in a sort of prurient nudge nudge wink wink way is seriously problematic.
One of the great things about that picture is that we get a chance to have that reaction in a context where the brilliance is evident, so that we wind up actually admiring this attractive women not for her looks but for her geek cred. This gives a model other than "desire object" with which to relate to women we happen to find attractive. That cognitive dissonance is a very good thing.
Plus, actual young women also see this picture, and having a role model they can relate to is good.
And, she was still quite adorable at 70.
I can honestly say that I never saw that picture and thought "I wonder if she'd date me." I always thought some variation of "I bet she would be amazing to work with."