I can see why they would be called that. They are a bagpipe fronted band in most cases, but seem to mix in other songs with their piping a little more so than the Tinkers (from what I've seen), and they have a dance instructor on staff. Having just heard the Tinkers music and not seen their shows, I don't know if the do the "skits" like the TT do (Scottish Bells, evolution of the kilt, etc...), and their guitar player has a slew of his own folk songs that he plays. TT do have a spectacular piper though. Based on what I've heard from both, I prefer TT and personally find their jokes a bit funnier (based on CDs only). I do really like Tinker's version of Farewell to Nova Scotia though...