Doc,

I have alwyas loved that tartan as well. I even bought a kilt in it several years back off of Ebay, in the hopes that it would fit me (it was a size 30: and my size then was a 34" -- oh, the good ol' days). Anyway, I couldn't get it to work, and I sold it again. Hopefully it is still being worn with love.

Anyway, your point about it being available through every tartan import shop and cranked out by all the Mills is a great point. I make the same point about the Royal Stewart, when I get people telling me it is "reserved for the Royal Family." I say, "then tell me why I can get a bathrobe and boxer shorts in it at Target?"

The oft-repeated mantra is that the only tartan that the general public shoudl not wear is the Balmoral tartan. While this is true in terms of ettiquite there is still no legal restriction. If I asked, I'm sure I could get someone to weave a kilt length for me. Wouldn't that throw them all for a loop, if I showed up at the Highland Games in a nice Balmoral kilt.... hmm..... :-)

A lot of newly designed tartans today are restricted in the sense that they are copyrighted (these are usually corporate tartans), but this restriction applies to the production end of things, not the wearing of the tartan.
Aye,
Matt