Please.
We give our dogs the world, we provide everything we can for them and that includes SAFETY. I am no less a responsible dog owner than you are. Maybe where you live it is acceptable for your dog to go everywhere and safe for you to leave your dog out unattended, but where we live, it is not. Our dogs can not go everywhere with us and it is certainly not safe to leave them running loose in our backyard.
We tried leaving Buddy out of his crate a couple of times, he hated it. He was nervous, he was barking at everything and anything. The minute we walked back through the door it was obvious that he had not enjoyed his time. Ever since then, we have crated both him and Banzai. Granted, hubby works from home, so it's only when we are out and about doing our grocery shopping or whatever. Regardless, our dogs can not go everywhere with us, there will be times when they will need to be left at home.
The purpose of the crate is to create a den, a safe-haven for your dogs. Both boys love their crates. When Buddy has had enough of Banzai or vice versa, he goes to his crate. His crate, Banzia is not allowed in there, mom is not allowed, no one is allowed, except for Buddy, his blanket and whatever toy(s) he wishes to have with him.
Yes, the crate does get over-used and abused by some people, but certainly not by us. When we are gone they are crated. When we are home, they are wherever they would like to be. At night, they sleep with us.
For some people, they have no other choice than to crate their dogs for 8 hours/day. As long as that dog receives the love and care necessary for a happy, fulfilled life, there is nothing wrong with it.
It would be wise for you to step off of your high and mighty pedastal and realize that situations are not the same for everyone. Not everyone can take their dogs with them, not everyone has the sense of security available to leave their dogs out
unattended while they are gone. There are others that live in a perfectly acceptable neighborhood, with proper fencing that woudl allow for their dogs to roam free. Others do not. Just because a dog owner does not have these means does not justify you calling them irresponsible.