My 2-Cent Soapbox:
We use takedowns as: extra practice on someone who we don't see in the practice room; an opportunity to practice shots we don't normally take in a match (providing us with live & unfamiliar opposition & reactions); an opportunity to push ourselves physically; and as a mental edge over our opponent by breaking them down mentally. It has nothing to do with showing good/bad sportsmanship, or running up the score, or whatever. A few years ago, a very talented 2X State Champion wrestler went out and wrestled countless matches where he took guys down quickly and was pinning them in 20 seconds or less. What good did that do him at the State Level, against better competition, by having only wrestled :10 - :20 matches for over a month? Consequently, this 3X hopeful ended up just like that - hoping for a 3rd time that never came, as he fell to 3rd place at State. Besides, takedowns are much more fun to watch than some guy putting his legs in and riding for 2 periods!