Guitars or ukes or banjos, treated with the usual folk techniques, are slightly disadvantaged in that discipline, hence the reflex "Put that bloody guitar away!"

There is some truth in that as I am finding out. They tend to push you into a rhythmic mode which is not always appropriate and you lose some of the rhythmic freedom which is needed for interpreting many traditional songs. However the reason for "Put that bloody guitar away" reaction had more to do with inappropriate harmonisation because they do not really understand modal melodies and so try to fit them into a standard I-IV-V7 model and that anyway the particular song is much, much better sung without accompaniment.

On the other hand, picking up the uke has enabled me to add accompaniment to songs which I felt really benefited from it - and I'm enjoying myself.