Is registry important for a puppy you simply want as a house pet?

My husband and I really want an American Eskimo puppy. We're not picky about grand bloodlines or showmanship or any of that other stuff because we really just want a nice family pet and have decided after researching dog breed personalities and attributes that an American Eskimo is the one for us. I see a lot of people talking about how the APRI registration is crap, but what would we care how prestigious it was if all we care about is just having the dog. Everyone I've seen talking about it seems to be suggesting that if you're buying a pure breed and it's not AKC registered then it's going to die from some horrible disease the moment you get it. I think that's a little extreme and over-dramatic. People find mutts and strays hanging around on the streets all the time who live long healthy lives, so why wouldn't these APRI registered puppies? If all we care about is having the type of dog we want, should we be worried about all the registries and bloodlines and blah, blah, blah...?