Granarchist, I agree with you about 'cocker rage'. It's very rarely seen in show type cockers these days because good breeders don't breed from dogs or bitches who have 'difficult' temperaments in their family history. the problem with the many poodle crosses, is that in some puppy farms or other poor breeding environment, any old spaniel x with any old poodle. The apricot cockerpoo is hugely popular, which links back to many red show type cockers being used to breed, with no checks on health or temperament.
Vets are right to express concern, as do all my dog training friends, about the problems with breeding early and often from dogs and bitches with disregard to health or temperament.
My current young spaniel has a distant pedigree link to my first spaniel (over 40 years ago). The line is of well bred pups from parents with proven health and temperaments. She's an absolute sweetie, exactly what you expect from her breed and colour. As Granarchist says - find a good breeder, get on their waiting list and wait. Or if you're lucky as I was, buy a slightly older pup they kept to show, but whose second tooth wasn't 100% perfect so they reluctantly let her go.