Are We Too Breed Obsessed?

Looking at some of the questions asked around here, I'm starting to wonder if we as a society put a little to much emphasis on the breed of a dog. I saw a question recently asking whether golden retrievers are great dogs. Most people said yes, they are wonderful, smart, loyal pets who are great with children. But my concern is that people get the impression that they can get a dog from any source and as long as they have a reasonable urance that it's a golden retriever, they are guaranteed a dog who is loyal and smart and great with kids. I kow that certain personality traits do run in certain breeds, but dogs are still individuals and poor breeding and upbringing can have a huge negative influence on the dog's personality. I worry that it's these breed based umptions that allow backyard breeders and puppy mills to flourish. It also may contribute to new dog owners thinking they can just get an "easy" dog that will fit perfectly into their home and require little or no work