Each to their own.
I was going to add that, but I didn’t. But it works.
The primary reason to wear shoes is to protect your feet between the transportation and the launch. The distance and the type of terrain varies for everyone, depending on the launch site or need to portage around impassable areas. If you take the shoes off in the kayak, there is a risk of losing the unattached shoes. If you live on the water and have a pier, your needs may be very different than a person who has to walk a long way across public land with broken glass strewn across the path, or someone carrying over rocks to get to the launch site.
Sand on the bottom of the boat make it umcomfortable for me if I’m not wearing shoes.
This may sound shocking, but I don’t overly rely on the foot peg for added power while paddling. I can get adequate energy transfer with torso rotation rather than jambing by feet into the foot pegs. I learned how to paddle faster without loading my body with all that stress. I basically use the foot pegs to help control the kayak for bracing against waves and to help with edging, otherwise my legs are relaxed, and sometimes simply extended out straight on the bottom of the boat.
I’m not sure about all the fuss over water shoes. Maybe it’s a different topic, but isn’t anyone also curious about the bests work boots, dress shoes, hiking boots or walking shoes. Try the damned things on and buy the ones you like. I don’t buy shoes on line unless I previously owned that shoe or tried it on to check fitment. When I started kayaking, I bought cheap K-Mart (a long time ago) slip ons but they didn’t offer much support while carrying a 59 lb kayak and they didn’t last. Then I bought a solid pair at an outlet, and they lasted many years. I couldn’t find a suitable replacement, so I bought a cheaper pair that only lasted three seasons. Now Ill buy another pair. It isn’t hard to figure out. Am I the only one who thinks this is getting silly?
I have to disagree. The degree of comfort and control offered by a foot pad basically fitted to the inside shape of the hull, far outweighs concerns of losing the shoes if capsized and discomfort of sand in the bottom of the boat, both of which that can be easily avoided. It also provides the opportunity to wear a much stouter shoe that is more stable and lasts longer because you do not have to paddle with it.
But as a great philosopher once said… “ Each to their own.”
One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor. Floor making this relevant to the discussion of footwear. 
Like I said, it was a great philosopher, they do things differently.
But who is the ceiling and who is the floor…
“Cold hearted orb that rules the night removes the colors from our sight. Red is grey and yellow white, but we decide which is right and which is an illusion.”
When someone asks for a recommendation of something good, value for the dollar is always a consideration, not just the most expensive. I always liked the 1/4 boot style for the support it provides and found some really comfortable, well made Men’s Hikers at Walmart by Ozark Trail.( they were on clearance at a ridiculous price so I bought two pair) I have found that Ozark Trail’s products are of pretty good quality and for the money, really good quality.
On the ceiling or on the floor?
What does that have to do with shoes?
Remember that you wrote: “When someone asked for a recommendation of something good, value for the dollar is always a consideration, not just the most expensive.”
I can delete my post if it’s a distraction . . .
Everything is a distraction. Wasn’t related.
At least got a spot to make a point
No it wasn’t. If that is what you want to say, say it. What do you think all of those men died for?
I sayith and taketh awayith. I no longer feel it’s what I want to portrey.
“portray”…We know, you deleted full sections of posts in the past, that is a form of free speech too I guess. But just don’t do it on my account.
I’m also tired of winter.