well then, to get back on the point, I think the young (say, under 25 years) folkies I know would have been more likely to vote for Martin C. And the 50+'s who remember Fotheringay would have maybe voted for them. So your theory just doesn't hold water.
Oh, and while we're talking about Smooth Ops. etc., why not a panel of festival organisers, agents, record companies, etc. etc. to vote for the Folk Awards (as is the status quo). If the public had to vote for all the categories, no new blood would ever appear in them.