Les, even if what you say about collectors was the whole truth, it's got nothing to do with defining "traditional singers". If they learned their music from within the tradition then they're "traditional", whether or not they were ever collected.

The tradition didn't die out with the generation Cecil Sharp collected from, it continues to this day, albeit in a much reduced and localised form. Some great singers and musicians were with us until recently, and others are still with us. Younger generations are carrying it on - Bob Cann's grandson Mark Bazely and Jack Rice's grandson Jason Rice, for example, and at ECMW this year Reg Reader's grandson was there, playing dulcimer in the same style. There were also young dancers there carrying on the traveller stepdancing tradition.

If you can't see a distinction between 'them' and 'us', that's fine. But some of as can see one, and think it's important.