Well the Scots today are nothing like that quote and I would not build them up as tea party types fighting against the establishment. They ARE the establishment. They are one-worlders and socialists further to the left than England. It is their right to pick what they want to do. I do wish them well.
You are right.
Like most of Europe, most of the best of Scotland left a long, long time ago. The “Yes” people didn’t think they were getting enough social benefits out of London, and thought they could do better by themselves.