When you get a really nice pair of leather shoes, do you resole them after they are worn down, or do you put a sole on when it's brand new?
I'm in the process of having some flats resoled, it's sadly going to cost me around $100, the shoes new cost $269. I bought the same flat in a different colour and had them vibram-soled to make sure this wouldn't happen. Preventative is always better than the cure...