PS - I aught to add that it's just an opinion, I don't think I'm 'right', it's just the way I look at these songs - as cultural artifacts from a prior period in our history.

If others see an ongoing unbroken tradition of folk song - there is room for that approach IMO. And it's not for me to tell them they're wrong either.

It doesn't have to be 'either / or'.
Depending on what particular markers we choose to use to define our understanding of terms such as 'culture', 'community', 'tradition', 'folk', there is obviously room for any amount of individual ways to think about this stuff. But for the sake of clear and squabble-free communication, it'd probably be helpful if we set out our premises first!