Yea I mean the example of good working boots being an example of how thebpoor stay poor is pretty fundamental but like you said nobody's arguing against paying more for high quality durable footwear.

They're arguing against a sneaker being worth $300 because it's a slightly darker shade of blue than a sneaker made of identical materials in the same sweatshop that sells for $60. And you have to make sure to never step anywhere dirty or walk too much to avoid creasing them.