Be as PC/HC as you want to be. Don't expect others to be as PC/HC as you.
I was active in the Society for Creative Anachronisms for a while. It's a medieval history group, technically for educational purposes, but mostly to have fun. I understand what goes into research, and the labor and money in creating authentic clothing and goods. The absolutely last thing I want to do is hand-sew something, *especially* in areas that won't be seen, simply because it was hand-sewn THEN. The level of authenticity required in some groups is a turn-off for me.
The way I see it, we are trying to preserve the history and lifestyle of the ML era, but not necessarily relive it. T/C & CVA guns might not be 100% accurate historically, but they ARE *traditional* muzzleloaders, unlike poly-stocked inlines. They are affordable, especially in the 2nd hand market. They allow guys like me to get in the hobby and work up from there, and not invest a lot if we find it's not for us.
The thread counters and purists have their nitches. Hand-sewn underwear? No way. I commend their dedication, but that's not for me.
Personally, I'm going for "flavor." The SCA has an informal (mostly) 10-foot rule. If it looks good from that distance, it's good. I find that reasonable for most to attain with moderate effort.
