Several people at the Durham Folk Party singarounds (which we have both enjoyed, S), including Jez Lowe, can play instruments but CHOOSE to sing unaccompanied. It's not a sin to agree with me on something.

That wasn't the point, WAV. You seem to think there is something noble about singing without accompaniment; I only do so out of laziness, when I can't be bothered taking an instrument along to a singaround. I don't like singing unaccompanied, it's as simple as that; and most of the people I know who do sing unaccompanied do so because they can't play an instrument, not because of some absurd idea of it being traditional to do so. I know some bloody amazing singers and musicians who make the business of FOLK a very pleasing thing indeed. Some sing unaccompanied, others don't; it's their choice and there are no rules beyond what suits the individual. Society is made up of individuals; culture is determined by the choices that they make.