I think that your concerns are valid.

Plus, food getting on it.

I've sat at tables like this. As long as the skirt is only to the floor and not long enough to have a break in it and it's only normal tablecloth weight, it's not a problem, IF you also don't weight it with anything. However, to get a nice visual effect you would want a weight.

So it will work fine, but maybe not look as swell as you hope. (If you look at something like the ballard design photos, for instance, all those table coverings have been weighted/reinforced to make them drape prettily for the photos.)

Forgot to say, also if you don't shoehorn in the maximum amount of guests at the table, since everyone's knees will be pushing out the cloth quite a bit. It's a real pain if there isn't enough extra fullness available for this.

Here is an example from Cote de Texas. I'm not wild about the glass top. I would prefer a topper that can be laundered or dry cleaned.

{{!gwi}}

or this:
{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Skirted Table search, Cote de Texas

Men in particular will hate it.

I had one for a while during the time I was searching for a table. I had mine made with a lining and a large covered cord on the bottom (I forget what that's called). Anyway, it worked okay. There were no problems of the kind you mentioned, but the cloth was pretty heavy. It was covering a pedestal table, so there was plenty of fullness for everyone's knees.

As a guest, I can tell you it would feel uncomfortable. What if I dropped my fork and it slid under the table, which I do a lot. lol.

I like the tablecloth in the second picture, but a bit longer. Have you looked at the beautiful tablecloths at William-Sonoma.com?

As a guest I would probably feel uncomfortable. I'd probably be trying to bunch the whole thing up and put it in my lap to get it away from my legs. It seems to me it would be very warm as well and for women "of a certain age" that's the last thing in the world they would want. Oh neat, a blanket for my legs while I'm sitting here with sweat dripping down my back. Maybe I'll pick it up and use it as a fan.

But if you're not at that age you won't know what I'm talking about and this is all just TMI.

Haven't you ever been to a wedding or another big dinner party where all the tables are skirted to the floor?
It's great in that type of venue because it covers the legs of the folding tables and makes the whole room look very elegant..
I have more than once found myself wiping my hands on the table cloth rather than my napkin.
Skirted tables look great.....but are a bit silly to use as a dining table in your home....unless you have a plywood or cardboard table. If you have a table you want to hide completely....go for it!

We had a round skirted table in our Florida house for years, as the DR was an octagon and it was really the only shape that looked right. We had a lined tablecloth made for the 60" table, which was corded and weighted inside the hem. I did not have it extend all the way to the floor, but stopped just a quarter inch short of the floor. I used a round top as in the second picture, above, but it was made of white linen and could be laundered. It seated six people very comfortably, and if anyone hated it... well, they were too well-mannered to mention it to me!