All I would ask is that you are gracious and courteous at the show site. Do NOT go in there with an attitude, and let anything said to you, or done to you, roll off your back.
I showed my tailed bitch at the Boston shows over 2 years ago. It was an interesting experience, with nasty comments from professional handlers and dirty looks from many ARC big wigs. I just ignored it all. The all-round judge took a VERY good hard look at my girl. The breeder-judge acted like my dog had 3rd stage syphyllis and gave her a more brief exam than Nov A obedience.
I prefer the tails for their performance advantages, it definitely makes a difference. That said, I will not force my choice on anyone, and feel that some with tails (not aimed at you Jen) seem to have a real chip on their shoulder about taking their dogs to AKC events to "show up those AKC people." I think that kind of attitude is absolutely useless and detrimental to the breed. I'd love to see such people just get out of the breed and head off somewhere else, they do no one any good.