Brick, what I'm getting from this thread is mostly the angle of SST9 price vs. most other shoes available. I brought up the pricing of the 3G Tour Ultra's because they're the main competitor to the SST 8/9 series.
From my perspective, selection of a shoe is much more than just perceptions (which may be true or false) of initial comfort and longevity. The fact is that Dexter SSTs and 3G Tour Ultras are in many ways different types of shoes. Much the way Mini Vans and SUVs are different types of cars with different pluses and minuses.
For some background, I suffer from chronic Achilles tendonitis and Plantar Fasciitis. In other words, my feet suck. Nothing short of risky surgery is going to fix it, and I'm not going down that path. This is the primary factor in any shoe choice I make.
SST8s provide more arch and stability support than the 3G Tour Ultras. I tried the 3Gs several years ago, and while they felt good and soft right out of the box, my feet were killing me after 3 game sets. The overall foot support wasn't there. For the amount I bowl (25-30 games a week), that wasn't going to work.
For bowlers who don't have foot problems, the 3Gs might be a better choice. Or maybe not. The point is that we're all different, and there is no single answer for everyone. That's why I tend to roll my eyes at these threads that evaluate shoes using narrow and simplistic factors.