Nige, You need to get along to a songwriter's club, you will find a lot of good talent.

But wherever you go you will find some who are less talented, that should not be an excuse to criticize all songwriters.

As for 'wearing a bit thin' that also applies to guitarists who all they can do is show off a succession of their latest riffs. That doesn't mean that we should denigrate all guitarists.

Most folk songs can be adequately accompanied by three chords. As Woody is reputed to have said something like "The best of us manage with two", or was that Pete Seeger?

Of course many traditional singers don't use any chords at all.