Julian Cope presents Head Heritage

I would agree, Prog became a marketing term to cover the specifically neo-classical / pseudo-classical off-shoots from Psych. I too prefer Progressive as a catch-all but it the two are not mutually exclusive. A lot of worthwhile music got made under the Prog banner and all truly progressive music is by definition worthwhile as it is primarily forward-looking rather than a nostalgic re-creation of something already dead-ended.

It's sad if some of Prog's exponents are going for self-mockery like a bunch of Bill Baileys. Their insecurity is tragic. You wouldn't see Fripp or Hamill or Vander stooping so low. Would never occur to them to be apologetic.

I like your list and consider those artists to be of great virtue whether you like what they sound like or not. Unfortunately too many people think that all Progressive music is moog-men-in-capes in the same way that they think Zappa was a comedian with a Carlos Santana fixation. People talk about Mahavishnu and VdGG being unlistenable in the same way as they dismiss Webern or Sun Ra. Their loss. I hope they and their I IV V AABA are happy together.

I would happily continue this through New Years but I have to disappear for a few days. Though you have prompted me to dig out Focus III, Tabernakel and that Peter Banks / Jan Akkerman collaboration.