> Or am I missing something here?

Yes. The factual-historical question of Buchan's and Christie's reliability as recorders of what people were actually singing. No one should have to apologize for trying to establish facts. (Nor should they be criticized too harshly for doing an imperfect job of it.)

No one will be arrested or for singing or enjoying the versions printed by Buchan and Christie.

In some cases their taste might be questioned, but that too is a different,and irresolvable, issue.