Two Telling comments? The Answer Perhaps?

[KentuckyCeltophile]

McMurdo, I think people who depend on tourists almost always have a love-hate relationship with them. Love for the livelihood and something less than love for all of the headaches- not to mention the complete dependence that so many tourist economies create.

But maybe our Scots friends can take a lesson from the Solomon Islanders and wear the kilt ANYWAY. It sounds as if many do, at least on special occasions.

MacLowlife and McMurdo have a great point. I agree totally.
The fact that so many tourists buying and wearing kilts (or aloha shirts, or French barretts, or Kentucky coon skin caps, or Arab keffiyahs) makes it totally ubiquitous. The identity becomes a casual thing. However, that should not be a bad thing. It should be a badge of honor. For instance, Americans love Scots. Upto 10% of the population has Scottish ancestry (more people than in all of Scotland). Not that many people weart kilts, but many of them do. Appalachia (specifically West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky) is so deeply rooted in Scottish ancestry that college courses are taught about the subject. It's kinda sad that we may have inadvertently tainted our heritage by supporting it.