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Crocs built a billion dollar company on plastic shoes. I think they are actually a foam resin, so you are right about rigid plastic shoes, but a slightly softer more flexible 3d printable material would be practical and useful.

Yeah, even non-exotic 3D printers like the RepRap I have (cost: $650) will print things like nylon and ninjaflex (which is quite flexible after printing). As others have mentioned, this is still the early days and things are moving very quickly.

I think these would have been a huge hit in the 90s.

http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/3D-printed-shoes-by...

And yet lots of people use crocs everyday.

Sounded crazy until I realized most of the world wears sandals. The proposition makes less sense for northern climates.

texture and feeling are not only material properties, but design properties. a soft plastic isn't required for a wearable shoe, it just makes the design require less effort.