Flats are back, and thank God!

I get an email newsletter called JC Report, and here’s what they had to say about shoes:
“The ongoing success of the sky-high platform, an authentic mainstay over the last few seasons, is a case in point. Assertive and dramatic, platforms marry bold design, attention-grabbing appearance, and show-stopping absurdity all in one sturdy piece. While they may be highly impractical, they definitely make a statement. They’re to the silhouette what an exclamation mark is to a sentence. Can anyone walk in them? Hardly. Nevertheless, they work visual wonders, and in this hyper-fast era of the all-encompassing image, that’s all that counts.”
Does anyone else agree that this sounds ridiculous? I had a perfectly wonderful spree at the one Naturalizer store in Manhattan last Friday. Bought a pair each of sandals (black, flat, strappy and with a suede footbed–very comfy) and pumps (pointy-toe style but with a modest kitten heel and tan leather “basketweave” pattern–good neutral shoe for the office with suits) and ordered the sandals in brown, which they didn’t have in the store. Very busy place but one of the few stores that carries my width (Narrow) with any consistency. I would order online but their sizes vary with the styles–sometimes a Medium width fits me–so a physical try-on is requisite.
Shoe companies, take note: because Naturalizer took the trouble to mail me a brochure, I was able to see their offerings for Spring and get an idea of whether it would be worth my time to check out the store, which is usually understaffed, so I have to budget at least 45 mins. there for my hunt. And the 20% off coupon at the back didn’t hurt, either. I got 3 pairs of shoes for what I might pay for 1 pair somewhere else. Sure, lots of department stores send me catalogues, but most of the shoes they feature are impractical and pricey. And poring through Web pages is pointless–most of the photos are so small I can’t see the styles.