So in my lunch hour I walked over to the shoe boutique and tried on low vamp shoes, thinking about why I don't like them on me. DINGDINGDING! I realized that because my feet are so short and wide - square, basically! - the low vamp makes them look even wider and stubbier. I actually need shoes that make my feet look longer and narrower, and I can get that look with boots or high vamp shoes. Anyyhing too low along the sides of my feet looks awful.
In ballet shoes my feet look RIDICULOUS, like little hooves (as my friends agreed this weekend!), and my heels tend to slip because my toes are wider than my heel. Same issue with low vamp pumps, which is why I usually go for a strap for security. I also can't do over a 2.5 heel, and most pumps have a narrow heel.
I know no one even notices but me; however, it was interesting to contemplate why I veer toward certain shoe choices style-wise and know that it's not just a style quirk.