"more to do with the fact that folk simply doesn't get a fair go these days [...], such that only a few manage to "find it." "

I totally agree with you there Walkabouts, I think that it is 'hard to find' - or at least it certainly was for ME.
And none of my 30's working class OR middle class peers for that matter had a clue that this tradition of English trad. song ever even existed (let alone is being continued) either - at least until I started banging on about it...! And they're mostly very musical people in one shape or form, from the classically trained violinist, the regular alt. fest goer, the drum & didge maker, the the self-taught pianist and so-on.
Wonder why the dramatic generational cut-off in awareness? I'm actually pretty bummed off that I didn't stumble into this hidden stash many years ago - alway's loved to sing, just never found the right thang for me till now. It's a frustration and perplexing.