We hiked in SW Virginia a couple of weeks ago. Interesting to see that every overnight hiker, except one, that we ran into (section/weekenders at that point in that area) wore boots of some description. The one hiker wearing trail runners said that after this trip (12 days out), he was going back to boots. Sooo...this
proves that, aside from thru-hikers, it's the web-walkers touting the trail runners...folks actually out there know better.
I think the thru hikers (prolly the largest body of trail-runner-wearers) can get away with it better because A) they're younger (young and dumb??)
, and B) many of them are not "career" hikers, and needing to depend on their feet and bodies for backpacking year after year. This year, a thru, next year...who knows what they'll be doing.
And yes, trail runners work for a few. HYOH, if it works for you, all the better.
Sorry if I offend....that's just the way I see it.