"If we're talking about Jim's work as a collector"

I'm not about to defend rude personal remarks whoever they're made by, but since this seems to be (yet another) thread centred upon the alleged existence of a "priestly class of mediators" (which I assume comprises or at least includes collectors), then JC's contribution, as a collector discussing the opinions of the singers from whom he collected songs, seems to be fairly central to the discussion.

"his dismissal of the inquiry which this thread is attempting to answer as prattish..."

Would this be the inquiry which opened with the fair-minded statement "jerks need not apply"?

"a musical form completely lacking in self-awareness and reflexivity?" [glueman]

There is a good point here: the folk revival is way more prone to navel gazing than most other musical genres. My experience, however, suggests that the 'un-definers' are no less keen to pore over the belly button than any high priest of the canon.