This is my view...
crates are the best.
If my dogs were not in a crate during the day, I would have dumped them in the woods by now (not really but it would be tempting).
Rocco has just now at 3 become trustworthy enough to have free roam of the house at night, and be free in a room during the day. Maia is a shredder so she may never be free.
Imagine, Rocco and Maia both free during the day. I would have shredded furniture, a couple sick dogs, and no patience. I don't have the luxury of staying home all day, I have to work because it is just me to support them. It doesn't hurt the dogs to be confined and out of trouble when they would be spending 90%of their time laying around anyway. In a crate, you avoid the 10% of time they would spend possibly harming themselves in the process of destroying your house.
I'm sure their are some dogs out there that never used a crate and never will use or need one. I am not part of that dog owner population. So, I say, scr*w her, you have to do what fits in your life to be happy with your dog.
As for crating causing joint or bone issues, that is crap, don't you think the vet would be the one to tell you that.
You are a great Mom, you have teenagers right? You are still alive and not in an institution, take pride in that.