Being a "cheapskate" by income level (i.e., not much income), I have been using the Orvis wet wading shoes for about ten years now, and I'm on my third pair. They have served me well and I fish pretty frequently, during the spring and summer this year about 3-4 days a week (lots of spare time in my severely underemployed state). They are not expensive, lightweight, and I've found them to be quite comfortable. They come with a pair of neoprene "socks" that I do use for wet-wading during the summer when waders (stockingfoot that I wear with them) are just too warm. They do have felt soles which have certainly been demonized over the last several years (see Matt's comments above) but I sure appreciate these when I am on slippery rocks, which fortunately there's not too many of in the local streams I fish. I have not heard of any problems with Whirling Disease, Didymo, or other trout stream invasives around here - not saying they're not necessarily around but here in the Great Lakes we are much more worried about zebra mussels, quagga mussels, Asian carp, Eurasian water milfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, spiny water fleas, etc. which are generally spread by boats. I do put these shoes in the sun to dry them thoroughly between fishing trips, and also I am fishing only a few local streams, not travelling the country from watershed to watershed.
As far as hiking boots, I bought a pair of Vasque boots in 2006 for $140 and they lasted about five years of frequent hiking, at which time the soles began to wear out and separate. I replaced them last fall with a pair of Merrills, largely because I bought a pair of Merrill walking shoes in 2006 for $80 and they are still going strong! Longest lasting pair of walking shoes I have ever bought, maybe because they're the most expensive pair I have ever bought. I do plenty of walkng and hiking, though the terrain around here isn't very steep or rocky.
Just my 2 cents. I haven't personally used the Korkers.
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...