"Other than that, it doesn't really need defining"
That may be your choice Sub - if so, why spend so much undefining the work of others without without offering anything in return.
You just want to turn folk music into the pap you do - fine, but don't tell others what they should be doing - I think 'folk police' is one of your favourite phrases.
"If some of this is based on idyllic romanticism, so what!"
Loaded phrases again Steve.
I usually find phrases like "Idyllic romanticism" - not a million miles away from 'finger-in-ear', a sort of easy fix for those with an agenda to push.
It's a little hard to summon up much romanticism when you're working with, say Travellers on a rat-infested site, or maybe an asthmatic trying to get songs from Appalachian singers in the first half of the 20th century.
Please stop copping out and put your arguments - I was beginning to think you were better than that. Perhaps you'd like to point out some "idyllic romanticism" here - the silly idea that working people are capable of artistic creation without having to put their songs out to tender maybe??
Jim Carroll