Are any traditional martial artists grateful to MMA for reviving the spirit of martial arts?

Not that more traditional arts were dead before MMA, but I am curious as to your opinion on the subject matter, at least in number of practitioners. I know this definitely sounds like a loaded question, but I asure you that I did not mean for it to. I teach traditional shotokan karate at our local YMCA, and by no means consider myself to be a expert on any topic that is martial arts related just knowlegable. I just love it. I will add that I a have never studied Mixed Martial Arts so don't have experience with it. I don't watch UFC either.