Couldn't even imagine playing barefooted or in socks only with the stuff I play. I'd tear the soles of my feet apart in no time. I do heel toe and slide my feet all over the boards. Just the thought of carrying fast 16ths on a hi-hat pedal without footwear would be suicide for me. This whole thing was addressed last year on this site. Dig around, you'll find it.Besides which, in the past I have come up against barefoot or shoeless players in the cattle call auditions and when I see them I know I have the gig. And it's always proven out true. At the very least they always have the weaker and slower bass drum work especially on the double pedal or double bass passages. They also show signs of fallen arches if they have been playing that way for a few years and their time is not as tight.