Are we moving forward or backward?

I recently was perusing through the New York Times magazine and came up short of breath when I read an article written by Katie Thomas titled, Running shorts, Singlet. Shoes? which talked about barefoot running. I was surprised to read all the different experiences that people shared on how running barefoot was working for them. While it worked for other, majority of the people in the article confirmed the shortcomings which included fractures and injuries and most commonly blisters.
Well, from my perception of the whole craze about barefoot running, it would be right to say that we are now starting to follow the good old days when people went barefoot, not because they wanted to, but because they had no choice. Our ancestor’s adaptation to running barefoot was because their roads were bare earth which cushions the feet, unlike the paved roads that increase friction on the soles. Secondly, people walked barefoot because they couldn’t afford it, shoes were a luxury; consequently with time they adapted to walking and running barefoot.
 Before running barefoot, keep in mind that your feet will be unsanitary, unsafe and cold. But if you really insist, i would opt for the Nike Free shoes or the Vibram Five Fingers that are becoming increasingly popular and use them as a first base so that the muscles can adapt.
Remember, walking barefoot is not the same as running barefoot so pick your poison wisely, because it might end up costing you more than just a work-out.