One more thought on a "honky-tonk tuning" -- with a "shrinking" tuning,
the major thirds might have slower beat frequencies than is otherwise
found in equal temperament.  Perhaps this becomes a perverse aural
compensation for the "sour" octaves.  It might also help to think of
such a de-tuning as closer to a well-temperament or even mean-tone, in
an odd way.

I still do not find this an illegitimate subject, because many intervals
in equal temperament are imperfect or unjust, and we commonly accept
the compromise for practical reasons.

Mark Ritzenhein