Collectors do not collect 'fine singers'; I cannot imagine myself reaching for the button in the presence of - say Pavarotti or Maria Callas, as much as I admired them both. Santa is spot on - we select carefully what we spend our time, energy and money collecting.
Those who do it (rather than pontificate about it), pick the people who we believe, for one reason or another, have the most important material and information to be captured and passed on. We base our judgement on our experience and our knowledge of the subject we are working in.
We may not always get it right, but we are far more likely to than somebody who makes no distinction between traditional and revival.
You have spent a fair amount of time attempting to persuade us that (a) there is no difference, and (b) If there is it is not important.
Many fine singers were lost because people like you placed no value on them.
Personally, the collectors I respect are those who choose their subjects carefully and record everything they have to offer, especially the information that puts the songs into context.
IanC
Some of us have put a great deal of time trying to make our material available; when we have put out albums of our field recordings, in the main the sales for the best of them are pitifully small, so we put them into an archive and allow public access - not ideal, but apart from posting copies to everybody who might be interested - what do you suggest?
One day we hope our collections will be available on the internet, but that is really up to those interested in accessing the material - not us - we've done our bit (and so have the singers). Unfortunately most folkies adopt the Cap'n's disregard (verging on contempt) for traditional singers, but at least the recordings will be there for posterity, where they might-just might get more consideration than they have to date.
Cap'n,
I wish you would get out of the arrogant habit of telling us who is good and who is not; that is for us to decide - not you.
Jim Carroll