AkC has been trying for years to get rid of BOWs They say there are too many cheap Champions out there and to a point I have to agree. I have a friend who finished a boy FAST and he never defeated another dog from his own sex! If there was no BOWs he would have taken a much longer time to finish.
Yeah, majors are hard to find BUT remember each year the points change based on the number of dogs showing the last 3 years.
As far as handlers go, its their business, when a Breeder/owner/handler losses it easy to say the judge was political, BUT remember if the handler doesn't win he won't have any dogs to show. A handler Always presents a dog to its BEST, Grooming is perfect, he knows his dogs faults as well as yours. It called being professional.
A GREAT seminar to attend is George Alston's he has the inside on the handlers and why a Breeder/owner/handler really has the advantage. He also wrote a book, but if you can attend a seminar you will be blown away! He made me cry when I first took his class and I had been showing 20 yrs and had several Best in Shows, BUT I learned.
SPARKLING BLU YORKIES