well, Don, since it is I who may have precipitated this thread, I will do my best, bearing in mind that it ultimately IS a matter of taste & preference.

First, having listened to both The Corries & The Dubliners, I have to say I find their approaches quite different...and I FAR prefer the Dubliners version.

To me the Corries DO play with the tune and meter excessively, and introduce a feeling in it that detracts from the basic 'feel' of the lyrics. It seems to me that the Corries make the song about the Corries, rather than about a lovely woman. To a lesser extent, so do the Dubliners...probably because both were famous, professional groups who felt the need to 'make the song their own' and have a version out there that was 'identified' as theirs.
   I have heard many...(8?-10?)...excellent amateurs sing it, usually, as you say, in ¾ time, and usually joined on the refrain by medium to large groups. It was a case of "let's see how lovely and moving I/we can make this song sound", rather than "let's see how I/we can use a pretty song to call attention to ourselves".
Yes, that's not an accusation I can prove or defend in detail...but you probably know of instances where YOU suspected singers were doing that on other songs.

In general, a lot of folks feel that The Corries, like The Kingston Trio and various other 'hot' groups did sometimes sacrifice the song in order to satisfy their notion of what their audience wanted to hear....a 'sound' that is associated with them. They are obviously talented, and much of what they do IS pleasant enough....and IF I had heard only their version of "Allendale", I might regard it as quite a nice song.....but when I said in that other thread that my wife sings it better..*smile* (she also plays it on a zither)...I meant exactly that she DOES take of of the prettiest melodies I know and exalt it with feeling and taste...not 'just' produce an interesting version.

Still....it is always de gustibus non disputandum and I am always aware that others can give reasons for their own difference of opinion.

There is another song, "Andy's Gone with Cattle" that I always sort of liked, but never liked a LOT until I heard Gerry Hallom do it in 4/4 rather than the usual 3/4...it totally changed the song for me. (and I don't particularly care for Gerry Hallom personally...*shrug*)

so....that's the best I can do without palying 8 versions and pointing...