It is a shame what has come of them, I'm only about half way through, if they would just alter the standard to try and make the dogs look like they did back in the day, when they DID things, a lot of dogs would be better off. But how do you find a good breeder then, if showing is actually "bad"? Not all dogs can be worked in a way that proves they are functional, how would you work the toy breeds? How about the dogs bred to bait animals, that is after all illegal to do so you can't test them that way. But of course you'd like a breeder who can prove they are actively trying to make the breed better/correct, as far as I know working and showing are how you prove your dog is what the breed should be, and if some breeds can't be worked...
They also have not mentioned genetic testing that good breeders do which may avoid quite a bit of these problems (not all of course, but some) not all breeders go about simply breeding the show winners.
I don't know what they would do about in-breeding, unless we get rid of pure bred animals (which is sorta what they sound like they want... I don't know anything about this organization, is it related to the HSUS and PETA?) there is really no way to never in-breed with some breeds, should they be eliminated?
I didn't know the Spina biffida thing about the ridge backs, why were ridges bred for in the first place? These were hunting dogs, I don't really see why anyone would have discovered and tried to breed for dogs with ridges, it does not make any sense. Unless the ridge is caused by the Spina biffida and someone thought they looked cool and started unknowingly breeding diseased dogs since the ridge looked special.
I don't know what to think, I do think standards need to be changed, but I don't think they should stop having purebred dogs...I mean then people would breed mixes, so there would be no more picking the right dog for your family, every dog would be a gamble, maybe he'll have the right temperament, maybe he'll stay the right size, maybe he'll be good with cats, maybe he'll have low energy etc. Some people cannot have that gamble. If you have a houseful of dogs your going to want to a pick a puppy who will be good with them, with no purebreds who knows!
So it really is a pickle.