As I offered previously, if people want to get together and sing historical ballads they are free to do so. Where I take issue is the philosphical minefield or linguistic gin traps that are layed around such enthusiasms.
It seems that yer average folkie (though by no means all) enjoys singing old songs in company and has formed an unwieldy structure to allow them to do so without guilt or to support their choices with rhetoric. Many are just p*ssed off with what they see as the shortcomings of the modern popular music industry, or think it's 'all too loud' in a Margaret Rutherford voice.

It's time such people left folk to do its thing without laying claim, rejecting, or submitting it to inappropriate tests of authenticity. If you like old ballads, you don't need a reason.