realskiers

Some good tips.  Thanks guys.  I'm sure Gary will be grateful not to have his fingers pressed into service. 

The expertise of bootfitters varies greatly between shops, and the odds of finding a shop with both a good bootfitter and a shell that fits my foot is therefore diminished.  I'm trying to equip myself with as much knowledge as possible beforehand, so I can both judge the experience of the shop staff, and make my own assessment if need be.

This whole exercise will take time, and I don't expect to come home with a new pair just yet.  But at least I'll be a little wiser as to what might work and what won't.