Thanks everyone! I got them. I hope they fill my wardrobe hole.
Deb, as it happens, the boutique I bought them from had them on sale too -- not as cheap as Amazon, but they were marked down by about eighty dollars. I try to support local and/or small retailers when I can, and I also prefer to walk home with the bag in hand, because then there are no surprises (manufacturer's defects etc). I would have paid full price these boots though, so the post-Christmas markdown was just a bonus. (Everything everywhere seems to be marked down at the moment!).
Suz, that's a mid-height heel for me. A well-balanced shoe can have up to a 2.5" heel (especially a block heel, like this one) and pose no problems -- but any higher than that, and my feet will eventually get sore if I walk a distance. Actually, 2.5" is the magic heel height -- it gives me just enough lift to wear knee-length coats well, but is low enough to be walking-all-day comfy. This is important, because if I'm walking all day, I've probably got a coat on, and most of my coats are at or just above the knee!
Rae -- good to hear you like the brand. I am hoping these will be super useful -- like the perfect plain black tee shirt!
Ariadne -- I know! This seems to be true for most things that have minimalist design -- not just footwear. It's all in the fabric, the stitching and the design itself, and I guess all those things cost money. (Thanks for the pm, btw -- I will get back to you when I've got more time).