I can't decide if its willful
I can't decide if its willful ignorance on the part of this company or cynicism. Are they really thinking, "Look, this is moving towards a minimalist shoe, which is what the market wants." Or is it, "Here, here, here, watch! Ok, we'll cut the sole up like Nike did, call it minimalist, and suckers will buy it! High five!" I'd rather it be the former than the latter...but I'm not all that sure. It seems more like what happens in music all the time. You know, like with any band not named Nirvana or Pearl Jam that sprang from Seattle in the 90's, or that was based out of LA and not named Motley Crue in the 80s. "Well, this band is selling a ton of records. Go sign everyone that looks like them!" You end up with a bunch of copycat crap. These shoes aren't even Poison. They're Cinderella. *shudder*
We might expect more and more of this as the minimal and barefoot movement grows and gets more and more absored by big business. It will be both good and bad for us. More press, more information out there. But more bad information as companies rush to cash in without actually changing and as people see it as easy and jump in without looking with both feet (get it!?). Might even end up with*WARNING: Spur of the Moment Conspiricy Theory Ahead* more injuries due to misinformation and a glut of new, uninformed runners, which will allow some of the companies to pull a, "Ha! We told you it was bad for you!" move and go back to selling the same old same old stock pilling up in warehouses.
...Ok, that kind of got away from me a little at the end. But I stand beside my Nirvana/Pearl Jam/Motley Crue analogy. That works, damnit.