"But I'd also venture to say that possibly, just possibly, some of the newer generation of folk artists know a lot more about what they are playing or singing about than some of us did way back when. Partly down to their degree courses for some, or their own personal research, assisted by modern technology and the information explosion on the internet".
speak for yourself, there is no evidence that they know more or less about what they are playing or singing than musicians of earlier generations.