I notice a bit of this for sure. I'm overall happy that the general consensus of the public nowadays is to rescue... generally speaking, for the average home, a rescue mutt is perfect. And most typical people can't differentiate between a reputable breeder and a BYB anyways, so yeah, really I'm glad more tend to be rescuing these days.
For me? I have really specific wants for my next dog. I would not turn down the "perfect" rescue dog that may come my way, of course, but for the time being... I'm fairly certain my next dog will come from a reputable breeder. But it's been nearly 4 years of research, narrowing down breeders from a few different breeds... I just personally have always wanted that breeder support, knowing the parents, seeing the siblings, knowing any potential health issues and what the dogs relatives have aged like, etc, etc. It's just something I've always wanted to experience. I'll have a rescue someday too for sure. I also have specific wants, traits, looks, etc, that I'm after. I also am a dog nerd who will most likely continue to participate in sports, etc.
I think one can find JUST as good of a dog in rescue as they can through a breeder but it's the little specifics that are making me lean more towards going to a breeder. I am sure some will think I'm crazy, or not understand. But whatever *shrugs*. I got extremely lucky with Jackson coming from a BYB in that he's the perfect dog for me. Had he not been, well, that would've sucked, lol. But I lucked out. There's a few issues, very very minor, that I think we wouldn't have had I gotten him from a good breeder (who socializes, begins training, etc), but 99% of the time, he's certainly MY perfect dog.
My mom, for example, introduces me to my step-dads niece's new puppy.... "she's so cute, isn't she?! She is a new breed, a pekeapoo. And she did the RIGHT thing... she rescued her from a farm in PA from the Amish country"
That's just how my mom thinks... she's not a dog person, she has no clue, and I feel like this is how the majority of the country thinks. She watched a show on puppy mills so knows "pet stores = bad" but doesn't think about the rest, lol. Then the niece goes on to tell me how "they knew their stuff! They had, like, 10 different breeds there!" I asked her what breeds those were mixed together and she was like... ummm, I'm not sure? a poodle and something? And I was like "pekinese?" ... "YEAH that's it!" I honestly just smile and love on the pup. I'm not going to be that snob who ruins her excitement over her new puppy.