That sounds plausible but it is actually true? When I'm walking in the woods the ground is very uneven, has different friction between the ground and my feet, is sometimes soft, sometimes hard. Yes I have flat shoes or boots on. But they're just normally flat, not rigid. And my feet can still feel the ground beneath me, through the shoes. That helps me balance, know where to put my weight, etc. Mostly subconsciously. I almost never fall over, too.

My concern is all the sophistication of the human anatomy isn't just useful, it's essential for something that's going to be less trouble than its worth.