I too suffered the disappointment of watching audiences walk out on Peter on two occasions. Once at The Marsden Inn in South Shileld and later at a club in Quorn, Leicestershire in each case it was for the same reason, that Peter was totally uncompromising. If you wanted to go along to your local folk club for a cosy night out then Peter wasn't your man! Audiences who were expecting him to sing "Butter and Cheese And All" for the millionth time were frustrated when he would concentrate on his latest discovery/project e.g. Walter Pardon songs, "The Transports" and "Both Sides Then" instead, obviously not appreciating how vital is was for him to move on.
Around the time of the Quorn episode (late seventies /early eighties)clubs were breaking up into the "anything goes" gatherings and those clubs which were almost 100% traditional and it was in the former that Peter, probably the most musically broad minded person that I have met on the folk scene, was most out of place.
Such a sad siuation for the most inventive person ( along with MacColl) that I have encountered in folk music and I agree that were he still around today he would be held in the highest esteem.