"Theres a lot more melodeons, fiddles, accordions etc about than there were about 30 years ago."
IMO,that is wrong, there were loads of people playing melodeons[PeterKennedy was partly responsible]there have always been lots of fiddlers,playing irish music and english and scottish that is my experience.THE MELODEON WAS VERY POPULAR FOR MORRIS MUSICIANS TOO IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES
however the technical standard is much higher now.