Gibb,
This is all very interesting to you and me and a handful of others, but are there really that many people out there that think that L&M's performance stuff was genuine?
Surely now it is widely acknowledged that they altered their material. As researchers in traditional song we simply don't include any of their performed material.

As singers, what does it matter? I happily sing their stuff because I'm a fake chantyman. On the few occasions I was involved in hoisting a sail there was always a winch of some sort available.

Jon
As a man on the spot are there really knowledgeable people still on your side of the pond who would take any of L&M's recorded output, and bookwise anything but TSofE&S, as the real thing? Oh and I ought to add the excellent story of Ben Bright sent to me recently by Jim.
Ta, Jim!