I would bet that very few Catters came to love traditional music by hearing old field recordings, or even recordings from the 20's and 30's. I think this question answers itself if each of us thinks back to how we first became interested in folk music. How many people in their 60's had their interest sparked by songs by pop singers like Frankie Lane, Rusty Draper(now all but forgotten)The Mariners(equally forgotten... the first integrated group on television who did a fair amount of old gospel and some folksongs as part of the mix)or popularizers like Burl Ives, Jimmie Rodgers, Tennessee Ernie Ford, the Kingston Trio, or even people as unlikely as Bobby Darren singing If I Were A Carpenter. For most of us, the road to tradition started out with commercial music. I too have had great comments from one of my sons, whose friends are all excited about the soundtrack of Oh, Brother... he's heard folk music all of his life, so it's no big deal to him. But, for the n'Sync crowd, folk music is a completely new experience for them. I give a big Thumbs Up to any movie that stirs an interest in folk music.
Jerry