"It - does - not - feel - the same as it did, and those who do not care for all the 'new' forms should not have the WORD for what they like taken away and co-opted just because it is short & convenient."

I think what you are saying is that "it" does - not - feel - like - the - music - that - was - part - of - YOUR - tradition.

No one is saying you should care at all for the "new" form. I'm not even sure what folk song tradition you are caring about.

The words were co-opted from their German origin and the 1954 definition that was quoted is simply that - a definition that was made in 1954. Folk music has existed before that date and after that date.