Discussing the topic can be like arguing with biblical fundamentalists. One person will insist on oral transition or source anonimity, another will say 1954 is a useful label but not to be taken as gospel. A third will admit it's a lovely idea but it's had its day and a fourth wants to destroy it as a shackle on their human freedom to perform.

My interest in the topic is because while I almost exclusively enjoy the music of what's called the tradition - at least as far as folk goes - I've never had much truck with the idea of it as a living entity any more than a crumhorn or shawm player in a mop cap is making Rennaisance music live. If I play Bruton Town to the tune of Lily the Pink it might fit all kinds of transmissional criteria but it wouldn't be folk music in the eyes of those who care about definitions, nor mine.