I think the fact you rarely see a hound in obedience tells you something, and I don’t think I have ever seen a basset. They are smelly, drooly (their floppy lips and wet mouths always smell moldy and mildewy), as @syz said, very prone to skin complaints because of the wrinkles which of course adds to the smelliness.
I don’t think you should buy a dog based on looks, you get a dog based on what you expect from it. If you want an active, smart, trainable dog to run with you or play with your kids, it’s not the breed I would choose. But I always advise people to go to a dog show and speak to those who are showing bassets. They will give you the true picture of the breed, they are not in the business of a quick sale, if they have a litter and place them, they want them to go into forever homes so they give you all the good bad and ugly about their breed. I think there are quite a few genetic health problems in the breed, you want to be aware of that as well so that you can be sure the requisite health checks were done before the breeding.
I love pure bred dogs and I have known and shown some bassets I really liked so I don’t want to turn you off, I just want you to be aware of what to expect. That is why a responsible, reputable show breeder is the best way to learn and to buy from if you decide it is indeed the right dog for you and your lifestyle.