The problem is most "normal people" cant comprehend thats there is so much depth and more to the scene than just baggy trousers and talcum powder. Theres only so many conversations you can get into with people who either take the piss or have no clue. You get a completely different response when you say "rare soul", people who have a clue will be interested, the divs wont. So instead of people with half a clue on northern soul taking the piss, you will most likely end up in a reasonably intelligent conversation or no conversation at all.
Its just as bad when I tell people about riding a Lambretta, a typical response is "so your a mod" or "do you have lights and mirrors". No I dont, and no I am not! I dont wear a parka either, it's not safe! I like rats, rustorations, street racers and cutdown. But people still cant get past lights and mirrors, no wonder people wore t-shirts with "im not a fucking mod" printed on them.
Yes people are more aware of subcultures nowadays, but they are only aware of the stereotype. And there lies the problem for most people on all the scenes, they have grown past the stereotypes and the more people associate people with them, the less they want to be associated. It's like the original mods, when mod went big, most of the top mods called themselves stylists to disown the masses.