"I feel pianos are great instruments in their place."
What is their place, now? I do not know a single place where I could go and play a piano, that is in tune. That is why I take mine with me. (Don't worry, Peter, I'll leave the second venue you mention, to you, btw!) ;-)

Progress with technology, will mean that the current high quality electric pianos that are being produced, now, will eventually evolve into an acceptable replacement, once they are refined and become less expensive, or at least, an alternative to traditional heavy acoustic varieties. Then, I believe, there will be a change in the attitude by many towards pianos. They are seen as instruments that do not fit into folk music because people are not used to hearing them played because they are so difficult to take to places.

My piano has been played round a campfire and many other locations, from concert hall, pub, back of a lorry, and I do not feel that I plonked it and wrecked the music of others. I am open minded about music and I think pianos can be a valid part of folk music, if they aren't driven by a plinky-plonker. (musical term)