While I was never a hardcore traditionalist, I wanted a kilt because of my Scotish heritage.

I started with a great kilt (and no I didn't go and buy some palid at the fabric store, I had 9 yards of Aberdeen woven for me - it ended up as a great kilt because the sett is so large that you can't see it all in a wee kilt), that I ended up wearing only to ren fests and a couple of times to a celtic fest - just not practical for everyday wear.

I then bought a traditional kilt. Again wore it to a few black tie affairs, occasionally to the local Scottish pub, but still not more than 5-7 times a year. Yes it was more comfortable than pants, but sporrans are so small that it was/impractical for me for everyday wear. I'd have to start carrying a purse, and that just brings up issues I didn't want to deal with.

Then I saw Utilikilts. I instantly thought, "I must have one. It's everything I've ever wanted." I now own 10 (and 1 PK - not to mention that I still have the Tank, the great kilt, and a Stillwater) and don't wear pants except in the direst emergency. I consider them all to be kilts, but I agree that some are more masculine than others. I've never been really thrilled with the UK mocker style, just seems more feminine. The same goes for Amerikilts, and Savanah kilts. On the other hand the other UK models, RKilts, Freedom Kilts, Union Kilts and Pittsburgh kilts all just scream male clothing to me.

While I don't think it took more audacity to wear the modern kilt (I put it on the minute it arrived and then went out to a film shoot), it had just never really occurred to me to wear my tank daily. There was a little trepidation. I spent the first six months thinking, "This is the first time I've gone to Home Depot in a kilt", "This is the first time at the post office", "I'm stopping for gas in the 'hood' in a kilt", but as negative reactions never arose, these feelings went away.

As for peoples reactions, once you say kilt they tend to go, "Ok." And frankly most people that come up to me in a modern say, "cool kilt", so I think they get it.

Adam