Motorcycle boots pull about 40,000 US searches a month. Riders still show up to MSF courses in sneakers. The class and any serious street ride want over-the-ankle boots with a shift pad and a sole that will not melt on a header.
Street boots are shorter and walkable. Adventure and MX boots lock the ankle and are miserable in a grocery store. Cruiser riders often want a harness boot that still has a shank. Waterproof membranes matter in the Pacific Northwest; they cook in Arizona.
Toe sliders and shin plates are for sport riding. For commuting, oil-resistant tread and a zipper you can operate with gloves matter more. Size with the socks you ride in. A boot that flexes at the ball of the foot but not the ankle is the usual good street compromise.
Replace after a crash that scuffed the armor or bent the shifter side. Cheap Amazon "motorcycle boots" with no ankle cup are shoes with a logo.