I used to do a lot of barefoot running and walking (I did the Great North Run twice barefoot). The so-called 'barefoot' shoes do not hold any attraction for me for one main reason; they reduce the sensitivity. If my bare foot came down on something damaging, I felt it immediately and reacted, so I didn't get damage. I don't mean a simple thorn, I mean a serious pointed object, the sort that would punch straight through these shoes or cause major bruising (like a pointed rock).
My thinking is that if you want to go barefoot running, go barefoot. Don't be half-arsed about it. One of major advantages is being able to go through wet ground, through bogs, then onto dry and not worry about it. If you were wearing these 'barefoot' shoes, you'd have soggy feet.
As for the heel strike or toe strike, that depends on speed and gait. If you are loping along steadily, then it's heel first, rolling to toe. Faster running, toe first. People don't run marathons on their toes.
The furthest I've run barefoot is probably about 15miles. Furthest in shoes was about 20, but that was in walking boots when I was young and (even more) stupid.
The best justification for using the barefoot shoes is if you live in an area where it would be difficult to go around barefoot, because it wouldn't be accepted.
