"Comprimise": Depends on what a person's priorities are I suppose. I'm with you for the most part.....if a dog can get the job done for me, there's nothing to comprimise. My Chessies and Springers "get r done" just fine for the hunting I do.A hard flush and a great retrieve are just as perty to me as an Elhew Pointer locked up on point. I suspect most of us prefer a "Jack of all Trades, Master of none" type of dog.