I know plenty of decent country folk who know the value of a top-drawer hunting dog and are happy to pay for what they get. They treat those dogs like members of the family as well as a substantial investment. And the dogs repay the kindness by bringing home plenty of meat for the table.
They are not the problem.
“Excuse me, since when are “slack jawed yokels” breeding quality pedigreed dogs? Or, for that matter, buying them?”
Google “Backyard Breeders.” They’re essentially trash looking to make a fast buck off of those willing to spend top dollar for designer dogs.