I think it is important to separate what you enjoy from what you don't. This probably has little to do with what is trad. and what is not but people often confuse the two.

Most of us who sing and or / or enjoy old songs are fascinated by the idea that they have been kept alive in the oral tradition largely by rural working people who were generally, but not always musically illiterate.

Whilst this is sometimes true for tunes it is not as true. To own an instrument and play from music was probably not on option for the song carriers. Thousands of manuscripts have survived from The Dancing Master times. They were not created for a musically illiterate rural working class.

I think this places them in a different tradition.

Cheers

L in C