Harpmolly,

I respect your views but I just happen to love the trad. tunes, that's all. Probably because I've been wrestling with them all these years and trying to do them justice in my own singing. Mind you, I'm not a professional singer, and have no desire to be, and have no need to sell CDs.
Nevertheless, you did mention Eliza Carthy and I have to say she is one of the few younger singers who has come along recently and astonished a jaded old purist like me. I can think of few singers who have got closer to the emotional core of English Trad. song. All this and Ms. Carthy is, as far as I know, a commercial success as well - you don't always have to compromise. I'm sorry but I don't think that Kate Rusby even comes close.