Arc'Teryx Vertex Alpine: Successful Work Arounds to the Poor Design Issues

UPDATE: MOST of the fixes/workarounds to the quirky design of the shoe that was causing big issues, (discussed in this video and also summarized below) held up on MUCH LONGER (~7 hrs), RUGGED, off trail terrain with SUPER rocky/uneven footing & STEEP mountain slopes. The most recent update, (including footage from "the field") can be found here: • Arc'Teryx Vertex Alpin...
The current video and below details focus on the workarounds.
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While I waited for my feet to heal up from the wounds / issues caused by the poor design of the Arc'Teryx Vertex Alpine, I purchased TWO OTHER brands of hiking shoes, both of which proved to be epic fails (due to poor grip). In fact, despite never having batted an eye - AND never having struggled with! - Class 3, I came very close to having 2 serious falls (in those other companies' shoes) due to POOR GRIP. Those incidents gave me newfound motivation to WORK OUT THE KINKS with the Vertex Alpine shoe, which is an absolute performance beast, both in terms of it's grip and also in almost every other regard. Despite what the Vertex Alpine's design did to me (as shown in the last video), I am so grateful to have made fine progress (workarounds / fixes to the poor design!).
To my pleasant surprise, I managed to fix - IN FULL - ALL of the issues I reported in my first video (at least for up to 2.5+ hrs / 3+ miles of hardcore off-trail hiking!). However, my first round of fixes created a new issue that I've since overcome as well (at least up to 30 minutes / ~1.5 miles of walking!).
Next month I'll be ready to put ALL the enhancements / fixes to the test on harder core / longer hikes. In the meantime, here are the products I used in the fixes / workarounds discussed in the video:
1. “Butterfly” Heel Pad
• 100% resolution of Achilles issues; not only no further rubs/wounds, but not even the SLIGHTEST BIT of discomfort!
NOTE: the 3M butterfly heel pads - and specifically placed UNDER the shiny black “pad” did the trick FOR ME; might take some trial & error (in terms of exact placement and/or thickness, depending on where rubs are occurring)
2. Hard / Semi-Hard Shell Insert / Insoles
• 100% resolution of discomfort due to insanely narrow mid-foot
• NEAR 100% resolution of pressure/discomfort in toes from hard shell
NOTE: both Birkenstock and Superfeet worked; I prefer Superfeet since less slippage
3. Corn Cushions
• 100% resolution of REMAINING, MILD discomfort from lack of padding in the toe region
NOTE: purchased at local Walmart but Amazon looks to have the identical thing
4. MoleFoam Padding
• 100% resolution of shoelace bite (took ½” in my case but problem fully solved!)
NOTE: Dr. Scholl’s, measured in @ ¼”; can EASILY be cut to size
OTHER Enhancements:
5. SCISSORS! (to cut part of the built in sock)
• 100% resolution of obnoxious CRANKING to get foot in shoe
6. Tuff Toe
• ***100% resolution of lack of protection (***it almost surely WILL come off though and will need re-apps; but if you value PROTECTION, that Tuff Toe will outdo old school / hardcore Nubuck!)