The doberman was designed to have no "handholds" as they are a protection animal so that's the reason for cropped ears.
People though wishing to have a doberman, and understanding the "stimga" in some areas to these dogs may find that a natural eared doberman is met with less fear by the niave neighbors and such who just follow movies and are in the mind set that dobes are a dangerous breed and quicker to be welcomed.
I personally don't care. If I'm not showing confirmation, the breed standard, IMO doesn't matter. Please note, before someone tries to start a war with me again, I am referring to the breed standard from a purely cosmetic aspect. I am not referring to any physical aspect of it such as size, height, etc. For that the standard is there for a reason.
I like the look of a cropped ear and it does can serve some health benifits such keeping the ear aired and dry. We would keep an eye on that thing automatically, but some people just don't think to check their dog's ears periodically.
I do plan to show Lexy so cropped was what I wanted but we I get my rescue dobe, I don't care. Those pics of poor crops were so sad, but this breed is attractive to the wrong people too as well as pits and some others, and those dipsh*ts think they will just save some money and do it themselves, hey how hard can it be right.... I'd like to crop their ears with a pair of scissors while you guys held them down.
I love them all cropped, uncropped, messed up crop! They can all come live with me!