If I ever talk about a session to somebody who doesn't know about the particular event in question, I always qualify it by describing it. I've seen this confusion happen too many times.

As for decreeing that a session means a tune session - I'm sorry, but nobody gets to absolutely define what's what in folk music. Anyone with such a totally rigid idea of the meaning of the term "session" (whichever meaning that is) needs to get out more.

As to tunes-only sessions being described as elitist - no, that's not the point. There are many different kinds of sessions - from pure singarounds to tunes-only. Some are run by an MC, others are jump in when you feel like it. An English music session is different from an Irish session is different from a bluegrass session - not just the music, but the conventions like how many times a tune is played etc.
I welcome this variety, and reject the pleadings that it's all folk music and anyone should expect to be welcome to do anything anywhere. THAT's just another particular type of session: I've been to some like that and they have their limitations too.

Live and let live, that's what I say.

If you don't like the way a particular session runs itself, and enough people agree with you, start another one. And if not enough people agree with you... draw your own conclusions.

Anahata
(who has been to a regular monthly round-the-room that welcomed step dancing and story telling as well as songs and tunes but explicitly banned guitars and bodhrans. It takes all sorts. That one doesn't run any more, not suprisingly)