It is certainly a personal choice, and the diversity of choices out there is remarkable.
What I advise is for people to be open minded about these things. I, too, never used anything but Vaque boots in my youth. They always hurt, I always got blisters. But what choice was there??
I now interact with the PCT through-hiking community a lot, and they are firmly centered on trail runners or even just running shoes (which I don't favor). For a lot of these people, their base weight is under 10 lbs, some under 5.
Also, the weight of what you carry makes a big difference. for day hiking, a low boot or trail runner seems best for me. When I'm carrying a lot of tools or a pack over 20#, my feet hurt if I don't have more support.
If I had "stuck to my guns" of my youth, I would have given up hiking decades ago, as I could no longer put up with the pain.
BTW, I think ankle gaiters are invaluable, as are poles.
