I agree with lots of the above comments. I used to play the guitar, and less often the melodeon & anglo-concertina, sometimes to accompany songs. I found I used them less and less and now haven't played my guitar for years. You do get closer to the audience, you can communicate with them better and it does place all the emphasis on the words - which are crucial. (I still play the squeeze boxes, but usually on their own. I can't do two things at once!)

Manners! It is SO rude to talk when someone is singing but people do. (Including me, sometimes, I fear). And walking into the room in the middle of a song. And even walking OUT during a song! And yes, why should tunes get treated worse?

Harumph.

Also, of course, if you sing accompanied it's a bit hard to practise while you're driving!

Steve