Crate training when done properly is certainly not abuse. I am against keeping dogs crated for long periods of time though. It does not substitute for proper training as some people use it for. I have tried crate training a couple of times but have flunked out every time. I'm a weakling when it comes to babies crying.
As for temperament, someone who has show prospect puppies would usually gentility handle those pups from the day they are born. It makes them much more docile as they mature and easier to train to allow show judges to handle them in the ring. I would be very hesitant about buying a pup that does not respond well to human contact. If socialization has been pretty much ignored the first few weeks of life it can effect their personality for life. Proper socialization starts at day one and is important for all dogs.
My show cats were handled several times a day as kittens and started getting baths very young. Imagine a regular cat being taken out of a cage by a show judge!
It would be a disaster with paws and claws flying!
