In reply to neuromancer:
> Shamans should not be comfortable.
*tilty hand gestures*
I think it depends on what you mean by "comfortable" (and I've been throwing the word around and probably contributing to the confusion).
I mean, yes, absolutely, an aggressive shoe shouldn't feel like you could go for a walk in it, wear it for hours without a break, etc.. It need to be tight all over. It shouldn't be "comfortable" like a pair of trainers.
On the other hand, it shouldn't be causing foot pain that takes days to recover from. For example, for me, my tight down-turned shoes are significantly more "comfortable" (in terms of not triggering sharp foot pain) than soft flat smear-y shoes. They're tight and I'll take them off as much as possible, but they feel right and work with my foot shape and issues.
So, "feels right" (after trying lots of different pairs) seems like a good sign to me. And the Shamans have an interestingly-designed toe box, with extra space for the big toe knuckle -- could be this is what MikeMarcus needs.