You have hit the nail on the head DB. I think Mr Geldof is too remote from the acoustic/folk world as well.I would vote for someone like Mike Harding or even Billy Conolly, now old Billy would give this issue the right national profile.
Only in England could you have a system as stupid as PEL'S. What is the difference between six people sat talking in a Pub, and six people sat playing in a pub?