sorry I'm late
(skipping all the grammer)
I think that cropping the ears is not cool. The tail is one thing, but not the ears. If you are serious about showing your Schnauzer, then you should already have a mental picture of what he/she should look like. I was a little concerned when I got mine, because his ears were huge. Just like the paws, he grew into his ears. Now they are part of his expression. The only draw back to not cropping the ears, is the amount of yeast and other collectibles that gather inside. If you love your dog, or want a dog to love, you will leave the ears and clean them often.
However if you are buying a dog to show, to pacify your need for attention or whatever, then crop them. Most of the dog show judges that I have meet are VERY old school. They don't seem to like exceptions or variance. Good luck, I hope you find a buddy not a trophy.