FUTURE OF THE PUREBRED DOG | TheDogPlace.org
I took a quick glance/scan of your article.... I pretty much stopped when I hit the part about AKCs eventual requirement to parent clubs for an un cropped/docked description for a breed standard.
We are all aware of more and more political correctness encroaching on what was once our own beliefs. In example, for generations of people here in the US we were taught Columbus discovered America, we accepted it and celebrated it. Now, Columbus is vilified and continually debunked as the guy who discovered America. A belief that generations of Americans had, a good belief, is now made bad or soured by current PC standards and it is shoved with no lubrication down our throats.
PC is requiring change to your breed standards... that's what it looks like to me. It appears AKC is just setting the ground work for, preparing for, the eventual and unstoppable legislation that will stop cropping/docking. I have no skin in that game, just looking at it from an outsider's perspective on what you presented. Whether it's CKC or AKC, it appears they are trying to prepare the breeders and clubs for what will happen. It's not if, only when. Cropping and docking eventually will go away due to Federal laws.
AKC/CKC are not forcing the change, only anticipating and preparing everyone for it. IMO