There's nothing wrong with RUS as a source--one among many--for words. According to the authors, it was never meant to have the folkie hymnal status it now has.   In many ways it was just a snapshot--the best guess at a song by the authors at that point--never meant to be folkie Holy Writ.

Main problem with it is that it makes it just too easy to never even have to try to learn a song.   You come to a sing, decide you like the title of the song two from the bottom on page 34--even though you've never heard it before and have no idea how the tune goes.   So you start to guess at it--and in fact insist on singing every blessed verse printed in the hymnal. ( Obviously "you" is not any Mudcatter.)

Life's too short--and music too wonderful-- to even take a chance on that experience more than once--and it has happened.

Ever since RUS started showing up at our local open sing--several years ago--I have not attended.   And I'm not alone.   We go to music parties--and RUS is never seen. In fact books and papers in general are extremely rare. I hope RUS doesn't get brought to a Getaway--unless the book remains closed while the person is singing.

The only way to have a successful RUS session is to warn all attendees in advance that it will in fact be a RUS session.   That way those who enjoy that sort of sing will be there--and the rest will not.