I know why they're not taken seriously in Scotland anyway- it's the Scottish cringe. We hear The Corries singing about patriotism and saying 'ken' and 'och aye' and whilst one part of us goes, 'YAY!, another parts shudders and think, ' oh for f***s sake, tartan again....'. I like them anyway! And i'm only partly ashamed to admit it.
Purism is, quite frankly, boring beyond belief. Absorb, assimilate, invent, you know? Pick up influences wherever. Doesn't matter if they're wearing tweed or safety pins, it's a matter of learning all you can from whoever you respect, and taking that knowledge and letting it evolve into something new and fresh. That doesn't mean that singing songs as they are without adding something of yourself to them (if, indeed, that is possible) can't be entertaining or valuable, even if it is just for the sake of preservation - just that there is something to be said for being more creative with them, too. That's my opinion, anyway.
And i have an objection to people saying 'you'll understand when you're older'...when i'm you're age, you'll still be older than me , and you'll still be able to say 'wait till you're my age and you'll realise.' It's an unfair advantage, man! :)