Again, it really comes down to what you want, the purpose for you, that meets your needs.
But, re this matter of what the breeder is breeding for, show vs any other, I guess I still do have some idealism in that in any case, if you are going to call animals such and such 'breed', there should be more than casual attention to ALL of what makes that a distinct breed, and that included both performance/function, AND breed type and points of standard. I don't mean striving for perfection in both at once, or equal emphasis on both, which usually results in a result not really very good in either way. but still, to call them 'such and such breed', one can't be entirely neglected, or worse, changed into something else, no matter how good the other.
if hatcheries or commercial breeders have so changed the RIR from what the breed is, what makes it a distinct breed to begin with, in appearance and performance and function, then they need to call it something else, beside RIR. But on the other hand, to me, i don't care how typey the show breeder's RIR look, if they lack the functional qualities that make that breed distinctive, they are still not "good" RIR. And even worse, if they are prone to genetic weanesses and defects, they aren't even "good" anything.
In approaching the chicken world, I admit to some strong reservations about "fancy" bred birds, and breeders,toward trying to choose a source of something I decide I want. But in my case, that actually comes from over 30 yrs very active involvement in the purebred dog fancy, showing and breeding, myself, as well as a bit in a couple other kinds of animals. I've seen, no, lived first hand, active in that world. And know all too well how pursuit of the show perfect, winningest animals, things like true breed character and matters of intended purpose and function, and even genetic soundness of body and mind, gets thrown aside. At the same time, there are some breeds that have become so divided between show and performance, actual use, as to have become different breeds entirely.
That was a MAJOR factor in to begin with, the breeds I did choose to get more deeply involved in, and strove for in my own breeding, as well as efforts within breed clubs, that a what makes any breed a breed involved both, and at least some measure of both should still be present. A team of working Malamutes may not be competive show dogs, may have some floppy ears, mismarkings, snippy muzzles, snap tails, but they should look like Malamutes, and show winning Malamutes should still have what it takes to take to harness like, as the proverb goes, a duck to water. And in credit to that breed and its breeders, most of them still do. And be able to do it with sound bodies, which, unfortunately, many of them do not. I had a neighbor on the other hand, a nationally known and respected breeder, competitor, and judge of field trial beagles...and I do not exagerate in saying what he had was a kennel full of little houndy mutts! Seriously, the first time i met the man, even knew he was involved in beagles or field trials, was when he came to my house to ask if I'd seen 3 of his beagles that had got out and were missing. I told him no, but that I'd watch for them, at which point he started describing them...and i realized he was describing 3 strange mutt dogs I'd chased out of my yard several hours before! And I was by then a very expereinced all breed show person AND dog groomer!
And that is not to even touch on those casual backyard folks that happen to breed whatever comes their way, OR the commerical puppy industry! I guess same with chickens. Though I think the large commercial hatcheries of chickens have a LOT more incentive to maintian some quality than the puppy mill industry, who don't rely much on previous buyer satisfaction to stay in business as a hatchery.
