[agumonkey]

What barefoot forces you is to restart that process at very basic level. Your feet are sensitive, if you stomp on the ground as you do with shoes (especially amortizing running shoes) you'll quickly see the problem.

It makes your movement way more subtle, soft, supple and also redistributes effort on the whole limb chain.

[peterwwillis]

Barefoot running is a lame fad for people who think there's secret value in the obscurity of old things. Modern societies have been running with various foot coverings (usually sandals) for thousands of years. So there's nothing wrong with running with shoes.

If barefoot running is all about moving differently, you don't need to be barefoot to do that.

Do Thai boxing conditioning for a few months. Learn to jump in all directions for two minutes with 60lbs on your back, and jump rope for 10 minutes straight, and crawl on all fours in various directions and positions. You will definitely be able to move differently, more efficiently, without injury.

Does this have anything to do with running? No! Running is running. Moving differently is moving differently. If barefoot running pretends that the latter is what the former is all about, it's wrong.

If you want to run, and you can run, and you do run, just keep doing what you're doing. Anything more and it turns from exercise (or a way to get somewhere) into a hobby.

[agumonkey]

I agree partially, but I stand on my point. Having no shoes will change how you use your legs and feet. Also tech and market may influence people into thinking they need cushion to run without injuries but they have incentives to do so.