Jim

Some of us manage perfectly well to hear, understand and feel moved by the words and story in a song whether it has instrumental accompaniment or not. Indeed many of us find songs enhanced by such accompaniment.

The fact that you prefer (for that is what it appears to be) songs either without accompaniment or with very limited instrumental interference doesn't mean that the performance is any less 'folk'. The accompaniment does equal, if not better, service to the song in the opionion of myself and, I dare say, thousands of other folk enthusiasts

Despite what you say it really is about what you like and don't like as it is with me :-)