"Why would anyone want to do a "tough pub gig"? And why should crowd control be thought a more desirable skill than musicianship which can command an audience's attention and respect?"

If you'd done it - you wouldn't need to ask. Folk music that doesn't have commerce with real "folks" - is something else. Why did some of these songs survive and some just fall into disuse, and have to be disinterred from libraries.

its the reason those 60's bands that had been to hamburg in the Beatles era had that cutting edge.

Despite the abuse heaped on me in this thread. I have no bitterness towards you - more sort of compassion.