I was really unhappy about it when they went there, although in the moment I allowed myself to be more comforted by the "perverted the culture" comments by deciding that they weren't Romani at all, but... that was totally in my head, and even if it weren't, it's a red herring, because as you say, the association is still going to be there.

I wonder if they could have done it without involving the mention of Romani at all, just a creepy family tradition that somehow got started by some sociopath who raised his family up in it. Probably not; the way of life would still be reminiscent of Romani. Although maybe they could have had someone bring the similarity up and have shot it down completely.

Sigh.