What's your position on using the term "folks" to address people, in place of the more androcentric use of the casual term "guys"?

You mention "people" as a potential substitute for mass-address...but I've seen others take offense to that one, as well...with the implication being that "people" is a covert cloaking of some other unspoken slur to address those from whom one might have dissenting views.

Just as a casual reference: I've never been a fan of "guys" or "you guys," used generically. I've tried to shy away from using it in all cases (as you recommend, in this piece) -- but that still leaves the question of a wider array of gender-inclusive alternatives that could become available.