It may be just me, but I think we sometimes come down a wee bit too hard on those members of the general public who make the association of the kilt with bagpipes -- at least they know what they bagpipes are, and associate it with the traditional dress of a piper, the kilt! At least they're not saying, "why the skirt?" Pipers are "unofficial ambassadors" for Scottish (and Irish) culture in some way, and certainly show the colours.

Besides, when someone asks me, I always respond, "no, but I wish I did!" because of being associated with the instrument that played many a Scottish, Irish and other soldiers "over the top", in the deserts of North Africa, the Burma jungles, etc -- Piper Mackay at Waterloo, Piper Findlater of the Gordons, and Piper Richardson of the Seaforths of Canada -- I don't mind being associated with them at all! ;)

Cheers,

Todd