Speaking of which... driving barefoot is a different experience; give it a try if it's legal in your jurisdiction.
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It's illegal in some places?
I'm in India and I learnt to and mostly always drive barefoot. If I try to drive with shoes it just doesn't feel right. I can't get the tactile feedback right. Have to get used to it I suppose. But then I don't really wear shoes that much (slippers do just fine for most of my day)
Or go on a long trip to somewhere more northern and you'll have to either learn to drive in thick boots or freeze.
For private drivers it is not illegal per se. But if you have an accident, they (police, prosecution, insurance) will quickly blame it on unfit shoewear.
There is (legally accepted) consensus in Germany and Austria that a regular, closed shoe without heels gives you best control.
Barefoot is IMHO treated unfairly, if you're used to drive barefoot. And living in a country where people wear shoes most of the time, they will assume you're not used to it.
For the hills I use shoes with a soft sole to “feel the road.”
(And decades later I simrace barefoot where there is essentially no useful pedal feel... in VR, so all physical interactions are completely blind - no touchscreens!)