Eric-I can't argue with your reference to Jim Lloyd.
As I 've looked back over the thread - it seems like the faceless anonymous Smooth Ops indeed appear to be the baddie.
But we fall into our old trap with your comparison to Smooth Ops.and C/W - surely our whole problem is in the music we support " Folk " has many more avenues than the rigid channel which is C/W ( a form of "music" , which, I personally cannot abide ) so it is a relatively easy ride to produce "good" C/W.
If I read correctly in Mudcat, MH is at WHITBY this year.
No harm in asking / inundating the Organisers for requests (NOW) for Mike to hold a Question / Answer Session - it truly is a subject which is causing problems throughout the folk scene in G.B. and needs to be addressed.
In all my travels,there is no country other than England (Not U.K. or G.B.) I said England , shows the gross disinterest in it's own grass roots music and song, on Radio and especially Television.