The impression I've always got of EM was that he did a lot to help preserve & define the Folk Tradition for England but then struggled to let it go and let the people (who's tradition it is after all) take it where they wanted.

For my part, his singing style leaves me cold & the presentation style always seems a bit twee (talking from the perspective of a 40 year-old). Cap'n Birseye is right though in saying he was a fine songsmith.