Mystery of the Uggly boots

The extent of the popularity of these awful shoes amongst Scottish women astonishes me each time when I see someone wearing them in weather like that. Especially that they are indecently expensive (prices start at 170 pounds! WHAT?!) and are usually worn on bare feet. They are also accompanied by a fashionably noisy shuffle along the pavement. They just make me cringe. No matter how charming their owner is. All I can think of is an image of sweaty, stinky feet working on catching fungus. How could one wear them in Australia's climate where they originally came from?