Wild statement qualified: recordings sounded more sterile due to the advent of small, deadened recording studios with reverb supplied digitally rather than by being in a natural high-ceilinged acoustic space. And as the decade wore on, horrible gated drums; and by the mid to late 80s you'd get people sneaking in synthesized sounds.

Admittedly I'm talking about the RECORDINGS here, which is all I can go on, as I wasn't old enough to be at the folk clubs/gigs: I concede that the real life of folk always happens at live events, not on albums.

I happen to not like Pyewackett, the Old Swan Band or Brass Monkey. I love JOhn Kirkpatrick, and I'm sure his 80s gigs were just as enjoyable as his gigs today, but I can't honestly say his 80s albums do anything for me.

So, while I wouldn't use the word "barren", I remain unconvinced that 80s folk was as interesting as it was in the 60s.

But this is all besides the point. You disagree with someone because you like some stuff he doesn't. Happens all the time. Doesn't make that person a bad writer.