Definitely. A well fitted boot will give you more support than a shoe.
Keep weight in mind though. After 20km a boot will really weigh you down.

I have both for different walking. Anything mountain I’ll choose a boot and anything hills or lower will be shoe/runner

Once you patch it in you can sand it all back and stain to match.
May I suggest getting a wood floor fitter as sanding and staining is more difficult than it looks and you’ll be happy at how much quicker and better the job will be when done by a professional

Look at the cube analog or the react. I have the analog and you get a lot for your money. It’s focused on xc

Go to the local steel fabricators with what you have and ask them to do it. They’ll probably make a new one