I'd get a $15 pair of aquasox at Target, and give minimal footwear a try.

If you decide it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, you can go spend the $95 on VFF, or Newtons, or Asics Tigers. If you decide you'd like to segue into actual barefoot running, voila, you have emergency shoes for yucky situations. If you hate it and decide your particular body mechanics work best with running shoes, well you've only wasted $15 (and they are still fine for the beach).