"The protocols are very simple and have been very clearly defined for generations."

No they havent Bert. There maybe folk club or session etiquette but that is subjective and governed by those that either establish it or in a lot of cases whatever the general consensus pushes for. They all vary from region to region or if you want to go into real folk terms from culture to culture!

Those protocols are your ideals and you are closing a session off to those that may in your mind oppose it!

Some sessions that my dad ran would go around the room in a set direction and he would continue to ask each time those who don't feel confident to sing. Other sessions you have to put your name down on the door, others would just perform and there would be no-one in charge and people would just jump in whenever there was a chance... some sessions feel informal and some feel like you cant even breath incase the noise put someones nose out of joint!!!

Folk is the most diverse genre and includes cultures all over the planet and yet you seem to believe that you can impose protocols!!! that's like saying that Microsoft can make the only computer OS :s