If they are smart, they will let motherfuckers use them in shit like Ranger school or SFAS, then see which one holds up best.
Bullshit. They'll test 50 different boots and pick the one made in the state that has a congressman on appropriations.
However, I'm afraid Tough is right on the money. When the people from Natick Labs came to test out replacements for the ALICE gear, (including the winner, MOLLE) they said it was the first time in a long time they hadn't done what Tough just pointed out. They were actually surprised that they went to the end users too try various systems and see what we thought.