that's a really good point that Bert made about commercial recordings being the initial exposure--sometimes they're the first step in. and even though the introduction was made through a CD or something like that, once a person's hooked it's likely they'll go beyond recorded stuff, into the collectors' realm. part of me is also wondering what the problem is with commercial recordings--they make the music more accessible to those who enjoy it and can't make it out to festivals and jams and sessions everytime they get a musical itch. sure, you're gonna get those people who buy it and don't FEEL it, but every musical genre has those borderline dabblers. they don't really harm the core too much. and maybe one thinks that the technology and mass distribution of folk is all weird and slightly wrong, that the digitalization of tradition is... hey, wait a minute. i think that was the reaction of a fella when i told him i got some lyrics off of the net...something about mudcats... : )