If you are still around looking for your coat -
1) I didn't know Mick Webb from Adam at the time until this incident, but at that time he was firmly in the 60's northern mould, so probably would not be able to distinguish between the two. By the early 80's though he had expanded his horizons to include more modern things and quite likely did end up buying Idris Muhammed - ironic as that might sound 28 years later.
2) I think by Aug 77 the scenes had polarised somewhat - certainly there was a gulf between the Idris Muhammed quoted on here, some of the worst disco dross (Space - which was big at the time and cannot be airbrushed out now because it's a crap record) and some of the bad northern, which you've already eluded to. I think the scene in the north crossed over more, but in the south there was a much wider chasm by this point - not just in music, but fashion etc.
3) I remember that article, and still have it somewhere. Godin was gushing in his praise for the Lady and his desire not to have rasberry's blown at him from the crowd, but this article came shortly after Reading and referenced it, blaming the "northern" crowd, so I was somewhat sceptical of it at the time. I am one of the minority out there that didn't automatically hang on DG's every word, despite liking his column.
4) I know that, and have always held Chris and his contribution in the highest regard.