Ron, I grew up in a ever changing neighorhood, changes aren't always for the better just because they happen & just because a neighorhood survives doesn't mean that it's what's best for that community it just means that it has continued, sometimes against the odds & sometimes it'd be better off dying. As far as contemplating why things (sings in this case) have changed (it is the topic here) that's what I'm talking about and from my take on it, I hear the same complaints from many singers, "there's no decent place to go to, to get together to sing". They don't go out to sings anymore because they've been overrun by bookies, where they onced had a few good sings to choose from they now don't bother. Oh they'll get together at a party here & there but unless they know of a sing that's enjoyable & where there's no books, they won't go. So you say who needs the snobs, right? And they say who needs us, we'll just shut up & stick to our own & in some places & cases they go hiding.
Right now some one I know is trying to get a pub singing session started up in Boston, I tried this 10 yrs ago, to no avail, hopefully she'll have better luck. I'm biting my lip, waiting to see how this flies. I went to the 1st one & there were books & papers all about, it didn't look or sound like it had a good running start or a good chance of getting off the ground. I'll bet if enough strong & good singers gather in the beginning & leave the books out it'll fly, if there's gonna be another show of books all round I'll bet that the strong singers will just sit this one out too. I'll get back to on that.
In Boston there are plenty of good/great/strong singers that are buried in the woodwork & I truly believe that they'll stay there, where they've been for so long because they don't expect that they'll be any of the kind of sing that they were used to prior to the 'book singing style' coming into fashion. I am not rying to capture the past & I'm not trying to change the course of evoloution, I'm only pointing out the differences between a sing that's got something that everyone can enjoy from a sing that very few enjoy, the cry "elite" & the others retort with "you've driven us out". And I hate to say it but from what I'm reading those that enjoy a sing that's loaded with books are missing out on the sings that are rip roaring but those book sessions are not being missed by the others, so who needs or wants who more? I guess it's a matter of what one considers a half filled or a half empty glass but it's worst when there's not a choice. I think in this day & age you can find a book session at your nearest library or local bookstore but you'll have a much harder time finding a sing where you can lift the roof off the house. Just try to look for the sing where there are no books, good luck.

PS, you realize I use the words "library" & "bookstore" as word play & for effect of course, not for reality

Barry