Hi Julia
Am fascinated to here what you are doing
From the other side of the pond, Maine and the North Eastern coast has always impressed me as one of the great links to British songs
I'm at present compiling a file of examples of Child Ballads that have been established in the Irish repertoire and 'British Ballads from Maine' has proved the source of a couple of gems that moved on to the U.S.
Perhaps I might pick your brains on a couple of missing tunes of those songsand background to the informants sometime?

I think your query really depends on who you are aiming your work at
If you are doing it for researchers you need to leave the songs as they are i if you are drawing from previous published collections, they have possibly been altered already
If it is for general interest, I see no harm in simplifying or rectifying them
Of course, the original singer's version of text and tune needs to be kept on file intact for consultation so that if you do decide to 'tinker' with them, you tell people what you have done (maybe as a footnote)
THe auxiary website will be an invaluable addition.

I am faced with a similar dilemma as I am hoping to publish our collection of Irish Traveller songs, stories, lore and interviews collected over thirty years

The very best of luck in this fascinating project - I look forward to benefiting from the result
I wonder if you have decided your categories of song yet?
Jim Carroll