My main issue with "Rules" for "Highland Dress" is the fact that it seems that a lot of folks seem to confuse the term "Tradtional Highland Dress" with "formal Traditional Highland Dress". The thought that Scots paraded around the Highlands wearing Balmorals, PC jackets, Waistoats and ghillies to do their morning/evening chores seems a bit....well, ridiculous to be frank. To equate the terms seems to suggest this type of idea. I reason that as long as the kilt is worn with the deference due to the noble lineage of the garment in question, then it is, or should be, considered "traditional". Understandably, wearing things that intentionally flaunt the conventions of good taste, (Rubber chicken sporrans [wink]) will always be looked at with distaste ( or a tongue firmly in cheek....see previous stated example).
Now as one who wears outfits that routinely do not conform to the "rules" but one who also aspires to own and wear a formal outfit that does, I think we should definitely take the advice previously offered and separate this thread into two threads to deal with semi-formal/formal wear and casual/non-traditional wear.

Just my two cents(pence for those of you across the pond) worth....