It's more honest to admit that likes and dislikes are the main point of a definition. If the definition doesn't do anything to tell you whether you'll be interested in what it defines, why have it?

The main thing the "folk" label has done, for me, is to make me totally ignore the bins labelled as "Folk" in record shops. I'm sure there's plenty I'd be interested in somewhere in there, but mixed up with so much I don't care about that I just don't have *time* to wade through the whole lot alphabetically. If there's a "Scottish" or "World" section I'll look there instead.

Jim, I get the impression that you want a specific definition of "folk" to be understood. What do you then want the general public to DO with that definition? How would the world change?