I've never been a huge fan of the AKC and their standards, partly because, like you said, it's so chaotic to compare so many varied breeds against each other, and partly because some of the breed standards are so unnatural and arbitrary. For examples, Dobermans need to have their ears pinned and their tails docked?! I understand why that would be important for a "working dog" guard who has to look fierce and for whom a long tail may be a liability in a fight situation, but it seems stupid to have the "breed standard" require surgical augmentation and amputation! And, of course, all those breeds that are just being interbred into unhealthy gene pools.

Plus, I'm just a big fan of mutts and mixed breeds anyway. Plenty of those in dog pounds and rescue shelters who need homes, and I don't see the AKC's "breed preservation" fetish being much help in dealing with all of those.