I agree that shoes are a rip off but if they are the wrong shape for your feet (and only a good running shop will spend the time and have the range that will suit) then they can lead to painful injuries that a physio can’t sort because your shoes are too narrow.
some people are lucky and can where anything whereas some (like me) have odd shaped feet.
at no point did I say he had to spend money, only that badly fitting shoes could be the cause of his pain but could also not be the cause. a good shop will also take budget into account.
one of the first questions my physio asked was which shoes I was wearing and where I bought them.
barefoot running is an interesting suggestion although I doubt many people can get away with just throwing themselves into it. BTW arent they the biggest con? 70 pounds plus for shoes that you shouldn’t be wearing?