"You see, language, definition, millions of people and reality tend to concur with me, "
No they don't I'm afraid - the vast majority of people have neither interest in nor knowledge of folk song of any shape, form or description and the tiny few who profess or have an interest can't even even agree with each other - leaving you in a minority of a minority.
Folk song had been de-defined, not redefined
Would those figures were different, but creating smokescreens around what folk song is isn't going to improve things one iota - the Irish experience of what has happened to traditional music here, with many thousands of youngsters flocking to play traditional music because they know what it is and where to find in - very different from the UK where they can't tell the difference between a ballad and a ballet.      
Sorry 'bout that - and for the loss of your cookie - hope she returns to bake you a nice pie before too long
Jim Carroll