"Traditional is, always has been and always will be understandable to those involved"

And that's why we have this problem.

Because ONLY 'those involved' understand. Everyone else is just hearing music.

"it will be just as understandable to those who (hopefully) become involved in the future."

I fear you may hope in vain Jim. It may already be too late and too many people may already hold the wider definition to be correct. Take a poll of the posters on this thread...

My fear is this: As long as the people who have the best access to ancient material (through shelves full of books) feel that folk music is something you have to be 'involved' in before you can understand, or appreciate it, or use it correctly, it will stay a minority interest, and the number of people who understand will dwindle.