I would like to thank everyone who is adding to this thread. It is really helping me to sort this all out.

One thing that seems to be coming through your comments is that many of you have a similar problem with how the words traditional, modern, contemporary etc are used on this forum.

I'm pretty sure that my objection to the word traditional is because many here seem to use it in a way that implies, traditional = right. Now, don't start yelling, I know that is not what you mean. But it is how it comes across to me sometimes.

I also was noticing, when reading posts like thistledown's above, he can use 'Highland wear' alone and still make his point very well.

It is very plain in his post that 'highland wear' and 'non-highland wear' would be very easy to figure out if you saw them. The guy in the center of his black and white photo - yep, that's highland wear. Me in the photo above - yep - not highland wear.

I'm also working on a thing sort of like a chart of the visible part of the Electromagnetic spectrum. On one end are Nathan and McMurdo with the Quaich. On the other is a guy in a Utlikilt at Burning Man.
What is in the middle are all the colors of the rainbow blending one into the other.

So where this is sort of heading is something less like a hard line definition and more alone the lines of a chart of the Electromagnetic spectrum with numbers along its length. Each number corresponding to a photo representing that part of the spectrum.
The photos from Ern above, and the one of me above, would be right about in the middle somewhere. We would be a very large part of the total of kilt wearers.
At least from the photos I am finding on this forum. There are a few who carry off the full highland wear look and a few that carry off the 'trouser tyranny' look. Somewhere in between is where the vast majority of our members fit.

So please, let's keep this going. I really believe it is coming together.