Its so interesting how everyone is different, seriously! I was worried also....because like you said, it's big time money. At first it was a bit challenging, and I can honestly say if I hadn't spent a Benjamin, I probably would have bailed on them....but I stuck it out for a few weeks, and after that my feet were so happy...I rarely wear anything else now (and yes I do have orthotics for my tennis shoes).I tried them... And my feet have never had so much pain!!! I had to get different shoes and $100 down the drain... And I found them ugly too... Lol... I don't know what the deal was but they KILLED my feet....