This seems like an America specific problem to me. Being raised in Scotland, the term "guys" was always taken as gender neutral term for a mixed collective. The term "mates" was usually applied to my group of male friends, and "boys" was never really used, unless applied to a group of males, but then you're more likely to hear "lads" unless it's in a professional context. It was the same for my parents growing up, I remember having discussions at home about "guy" and "guys" and how they contextually mean different things. I found it very confusing, but there are quite a few confusing rules in English that require context for understanding, or just are that way because of how it is.
I'm seeing a lot of what I assume to be American's commenting that everyone should just use "Y'all" without taking in to consideration any of the other English speaking nations, accents and International English. To me it sounds ridiculous and lazy, but you do you.
I can absolutely get behind not using "boys" as a collective, it does irritate me to hear so many Streamers and Youtubers, again majority American, constantly use "boys" when referring to a collective. It always feels like an inappropriate use of the term and it is exclusionary and ignorant. I rarely ever have seen a British person use "boys" collectively, and when I have it generally has been in a mocking or sarcastic way. I feel a lot of International English, or second language speakers, may pick up on "boys" from exposure to the dominance of American media and voices in the West.
Merriam-Webster definition:
Definition of guy
(Entry 1 of 4)
1a
: MAN, FELLOW
b
: PERSON —used in plural to refer to the members of a group regardless of sex
Oxford English Dictionary definition:
guy
NOUN
- 1 informal A man.
'he's a nice guy'
More example sentences
Synonyms
- 1.1 guys People of either sex.
'you guys want some coffee?'
Going by the both major dictionary definitions, "boys" is very specific to males, where as "guys" is not.
Maybe y'all just need to English better :P