yes politcal correctness is an idea to provide cover for ignorant nasty impolite and viscious bigots.

but as to the question, the roma i knew in canada were offended by the term gypsy, an i support the basic principle that decent ethical and kind people use the terms that that ethnic group prefers.

on the other hand irish roma i met years ago seemed to not mind the term gypsy. i don't know why. some irish travellers are gaelic , and some roma and some mixed. i was told that finbar furey spoke gaelic and romani as well as english--by a piper who played with him back in the old days(who won the all irealnd piping championship around 1959-60).

i would use the term prefered by the people themselves