Actually there is something even closer to barefoot than a flip flop. I don’t know what they are called, and the first time I saw them they kinda weirded me out. They look like a glove made for feet, complete with ‘toes’ instead of ‘fingers’. A woman was wearing them when I saw them.
It’s the same concept. Minimal protection, they want to be barefoot yet have protection. I just don’t get it. I like real protection around my feet.