A preface to my reply: Sorry if this comes off as defensive. That was not my intention. It seemed some missed the intent of the post and so I re-post to clear it up. My original question was a tongue in cheek comparison to see what kind of scrutiny I would dredge up. Thanks, however for your helpful suggestions and your heartfelt opinions.

In all, guys, I have investigated doing the Hynde. Like I said, I would have to buy a minimum shipment of the wool which for the mills I looked at would be around $500 all by itself (not including the international shipping), hire a kilt maker, etc, just to get a good Hynde kilt. The hynde is not a very oft used tartan and as such there are certain hoops you have to go through to get it. It’s like buying a puppy, not for the joy you would get in raising it and loving it, but so you can show everyone its breeding papers. The cost and trouble would get you pretty much the same end result but you would be different for the attitude you express in its display. All I was doing was pointing out that, being as I just like to wear kilts in general and most of the Scottish nationals that I know don't care what tartan you wear unless you are at a clan function or other formal gathering, and since I just wanted a decent substitute that I could afford instead of the custom made one-shot which I already explained would run me around $1,000 for one kilt, this seemed a good choice. As I said, my Scottish born grandmother doesn’t mind wearing the Maclean as an alternative to the Hynde for the same cost and availability issues and she doesn’t have any problem with me wearing the Sutherland as long as I wear the kilt honorably. I am going to (hopefully) be able to save up for a Weathered Graham of Mentieth 5yd from USAkilts sometime this coming year in order to have the clan tartan that I am most connected too in a variation that most pleases me personally for formal occasions. This was just a tongue in cheek way of asking if I could slip this past the "kilt police" that you find far too often on kilt message boards. I guess it doesn’t hold up to that kind of scrutiny. Oh, well. Though I respect your opinions I’m still going to wear it proudly and let the chips fall where they may. As far as the example of flags, I have never been much one for “king and country” and all that. Flags mean nothing. Only God and family matter to me and if they give their blessing I care not what all else think. I think the kilt itself is an international symbol of Scottish pride and strength. I wear them with pride, honor, and in a fun loving spirit, as we all should regardless of our “right” to wear a particular tartan. Thanks for the advice, I'll keep it in mind for the future.

God bless the kilted everywhere and all who see them,
Hugh