But then that's how so many breeds were invented. The basic 'spaniel' diverged into the smaller King Charles, or the taller springer, or the bulky Clumber. The working cocker and show cocker are effectively two different breeds now, and usually bear little resemblence to each other. A working cocker in the showring is likely to come third even if it's the only one in the class. Similarly with labradors.

I don't think either "camp" regards it tragic :), we are happy showing our dogs which, over the decades, have developed along the lines of good looking, typey, affectionate managable companions that people can still take a field trial qualification with if they so desire and the working dog owners are happy to work and play with their lovely dogs with clearly no desire to pursue a standardisation of appearance to facilitate judgement on that level.
I think the only fly in this ointment is when one type is sold to an unsuspecting person without it being fully explained to them what they are getting and it has to be said that is almost inevitably a working bred dog.  The working cocker is obviously just the ticket for some people but it can be a dissappointment for those that had a different mental picture of how their pup will develop as an adult and it can be a disaster for the unsuspecting home ill-prepared to cope with the much higher training and exercise demands.

I used to trim 2 Cockers, nice, sweet, tail wagging bitches, for a family until they both died through old age.  The children had left home and the parents retired.  Having said 'No more dogs' they rang one day and said 'We have another Cocker puppy'.  When they brought it in, it was a Working Cocker.  It grew and grew, tall and wide and the now retired parents couldn't possibly keep it occupied mentally and physically and by the time it was 2 years old it was with the NCDL - the breeder, on a farm, wasn't interested.  They were devastated but had no idea that this was not the same Cocker that they'd had before.  They were just shown the pups and Mum was 'over there'.  The pup was £300 - they didn't realise that a show Cocker would be nearer to £500 - they hadn't bought a puppy for 14 years! A very sad situation. :(