Personally I thing women pressure each other to wear these ankle breakers. I think if women collectively decided to stop wearing these things the typical male would respond "Uh, OK dear" and hardly notice.
The pole dances would not be as good in flats though. ;o)
YES - they do. I could never bear high heels, and in my younger days was conspicuous for wearing lace-up flats. I really do not think that any man who knew me even noticed them. Women, however, were always teasing me about my shoes and asking me when I would get a "nice" pair. (When my brains fall out of my head.)
I had to wait until the 1990s, when grunge fashions made the most heavy shoes fashion items, then these stupid women thought I was ok.