I have bad feet and orthotics did wonders (I also had a bunionectomy many years ago and ended up not needing another by getting better shoes, but I likely will in the future). Minimalist shoes can be good, but in my case, except for reducing pain from a too narrow box, they would have done nothing. If you have orthotics and a doctor who is like “mmmm surgery time” then barefoot shoe proselytizers can get bent.