I concur completely, I have returned to folk over the past year or so after a long absence, and I have rebuilt my songbook mainly from Mudcat.
Since I am not, and I do not think many of us are, one dimensional folkies, I enjoy the diverse nature of these threads - I like the humour, and those threads I don't understand or don't agree with I don't participate in.
I hope it continues much as it is at the moment - as for the disruptive element - well I am sure my dad is bigger than their dad, so I'll not lose sleep over them!