Al - no intention on my part to be rude, and I hope I wasn't. 'Twas merely that the "hidden agenda" bit rankled slightly. But that's past and done with, I hope, and now to your original question...

The second answer to your original post - from Dick Greenhaus - was "Whatever works". I would agree with that and also say that what always interests me is when a particular genre of music is played in a different way and in a style or an instrument from another genre. Sometimes these things work, and sometimes they don't. For example, I remember to this day the frisson of excitement I got from hearing Davy Graham's backing to Shirley Collins's singing of "Pretty Saro" and "Nottamun Town" on the "Folk Roots, New Routes" album. So - on with the crossover, as far as I'm concerned. I don't think any tradition is in danger of being forgotten or swamped by being twisted around a little.