In part i agree with Shimrod, but then for youngsters there has to be a starting point, Carthy is a one off and who can blame people for paying homage to his style, (Dylan, Rusby et al), we have a young singer who in one set would have passed for Dolly Parton or Kate Rusby, honest, eyes shut one could barely have told the difference, now she has developed her own style in her vernacular, which, ironically, is only a stones throw from Kate Rusby's roots. Even trying to be themselves still gets comparisons with other more well known artist, that is because it is used as a substitute for a richer narrative, otherwise known as "influenced by" Spot on observation about the singing styles, my elderly aunt was a club singer in the sixties, she is in her seventies and still singing, she still holds and carries a tune but the power and vibrato have gone, she did explain it technically to me but I didn't really take it in. I have serious doubts about " who sings folk songs" I think everyone did and so there was never a set style or sound, perhaps trained singers avoided folk songs because anyone could sing them. I think Carthy sang, and sings, songs with feeling for the songs and to the best of his ability as everyone would and should do, I think it might be a contradiction to actually sit in judgement on any song or singer, if I had been judged in the early years I would definately have got NIL POINTS.
applause is better than medalions and certificates, so an education policy/ crusade, nay an evangelistic campaign for folkies to applaud the slightest whiff of interest from anyone under twenty five might be better than exams!