Yes Brian, but isn't that what we've lost, except in places like Harris?
All the older singers I've heard & learnt from, like Fred Jordan, Davie Stewart, Willy Scott & Jack Elliott had their roots DEEP in their community, and I agree that Ted Poole was one who tried very hard to make the music part of the community- the man was a hero to me, and a feature of the earlier days of Swindon club was that it was a cross-section of the community, especially age-wise.
It's hard to see the music or the other aspects of Ms Bunting's comments as relevant to the communities we live in today, very likely in Harris as well, but I think she hit the spot!
Some of us try to re-create community and I'm full of admiration for those who go out, like Ted, into the non-folk world & make the music relevant & not some kind of preservation society- that way lies oblivion.