Wouldn't that more appropriately be "Bahhhh-Lok" up your way Grady? Seems to me like this conversation, with all of its history/pathology, can easily be explained with three simple facts:
1. This is a Kleenex/tissue debate
2. New Englanders usually misname and mispronounce things, we just accept it.
3. They're Zip-Ties anyway!!!
[Ducks and runs for cover

]