I'm thinking you could get a similar look for less, if it's not a situation iin which you have to make some kind of impression with the brand. I don't have a particular brand in mind, so would have to search.
I think this style is a good choice for practical reasons, as you say. I may be in the weeds, but I think it's a classic type of shoe for "women in pants" who have to have some comfort level (meaning, an alternative to classic pumps) and a heeled alternative to flats of all sorts.
That said, you could easily find a pretty nice boot for half of that or less, if that would work with the pants--not all boots/booties work with all of my pant hems, for instance..
And you have to figure the same thing for higher-vamped loafers, as in the Gucci--how will the pant hem fall, will it hang up on the vamp.
I like to read Corporette from time to time because they feature dress codes, and questions, that are more business-formal and conservative than much of what goes on on YLF. They frequently discuss this type of shoe, what type of shoe with pants, degrees of formality, all of that, and refer to brands.