We can agree to disagree John. 
I am sure in some instances you are right, and certainly in some breeds a lot more than others. I can only comment on what i know (which is little, i only show my dogs on average once a month or so. I only have the two and I've only been doing it a few years on and off. I am friends with several people in my breed who have been doing it for donkeys years, and they have kindly shown me the ropes, but I think a lot of things vary from breed to breed).
The one thing I would say is that yes, some of the things people have bred for have buggered up some breeds to put it bluntly, e.g. squashed face breeds.
However, there are many things that are in the standard for practical, health related reasons, particularly in more moderate dogs. So for example, in a labrador you would like to see that the feet are: "Round, compact; well arched toes and well developed pads" This is because, long thin "hares feet" are inadequate for the work a lab was bred to do, and are more prone to injury over a long days work. On a similar vein, the hindquarters should be: "Well developed, not sloping to tail; well turned stifle. Hocks well let down, cowhocks highly undesirable"- Cow hocks are when the hocks turn inwards. If the dogs angulation is incorrect e.g. like cow hocks then they won't be able to power the dogs forward from behind, again he is more likely to injure himself if he is asked to work (or yeehaa around the local park for that matter). The slope of the shoulder is the same- enabling the dog to carry heavy game in the least tiring manner, with most of the weight carried in his shoulders rather than the mouth and neck. The waterproof double coat is required to keep him warm and dry whilst working in water (or wallowing in disgusting puddles, standing water or anything wet and smelly if you are my dogs). A labrador doing his original job would be at risk of getting chilled through without it.
In terms of handling, in our breed dogs are free standing in front of their handler on a loose lead. Most are moved on a loose lead so that you can show off their movement, which is best when you leave them to it (so long as you are not my puppy who generally is so thrilled that she boings around like a kangaroo 
)
Other breeds stack their dogs, so they are shown with handlers kneeling along side, guiding them into a stretched out position which that particular breed feels shows off their conformation. Now, of course it would be ridiculous to comment on every handler etc. What i know about this is just from what i have seen at local ring craft classes, where you practice show training. The dogs that I've seen being taught to stack are certainly not manhandled or held down. They are guided and taught, yes, but ultimately, do you think you are able to hold out a large gun dog, e.g. a setter when it doesn't want to? Maybe for a nano second before it squirms out of grasp, bounds off and you look like a complete idiot, and aside from any welfare issues no one is going to want to regularly make a fool of themselves in public. From what I've seen, which i appreciate is a tiny snap shot of dogs at two particular training classes, is that this position is taught like any other, ideally starting from being a puppy, using lots of praise and treats and making a big fuss when they get it right, doing it for just a few seconds several times a day and building up to holding the position in a calm and still manner for the ring. Which is pretty much exactly how I've taught my dogs to free stand, catching their attention when they are doing it right, making a huge fuss with praise and an extra special treat- hot dogs, and then when they've got the idea that i want them to stand square in front of me, ask for just a few seconds more each time, making out like they're the cleverest dogs to ever walk the earth when they get it right.