I firmly agree with you on the "y'all" issue. We used to have the distinction, of course, "you" is actually the plural form. In contrast, though, when I mentioned to a comrade that "y'all" should be brought in as the plural, he looked at me sternly and informed me that the correct plural is "all y'all" Thus y'all is really more like a dual or a small size plural I suppose...

G'day

Since I'm Australian I thought it might be interesting anyway.
I have 45% General American, 30% Yankee, 20% dixie and 0% for the rest. On the other hand, some (very few) think I sound English)

There were at least 4 questions which I could not answer, because the word I would use, not surprisingly, isn't there)
(bubbly drink is soft drink, water fountain is a bubbler, shopping cart is a shopping trolley, and I have no idea what an easy class is.)

I first struck "y'all" on a visit to New Orleans (or is that "N'orl'ns?") (not counting television encounters with the phrase). Very endearing kind of phrase I think.

good onya mate,
Vergil