The fact that buying a puppy from a certified, AKC-approved and responsible breeder is seen as an evil act on Reddit and among Redditors is something I don't understand.

Adopting a foster dog or rescue dog works for some, but for those who have a preference for a specific breed for whatever reason - like in this case a Golden which you hardly ever see at rescues and the moment one comes to a rescue are gone pretty much in an instant - there is nothing wrong going with a responsible, AKC-approved breeder where you know you are getting a well-cared puppy. And for some people, they may want to get a puppy to train from the start and bring in to their lives as a young dog instead of an older dog. Nothing wrong with that.

OP, I'd ask this in specific dog or Golden forums where you'll get more nuanced answers and whatnot.