Barefoot training

Brad is correct.
If you want to be a great athlete you need to train the feet. Weak feet lead to leaky kinetic chains which will lead to not performing up to your potential, afterall most athletic movements start from the feet and from there they transfer the force from the foot to the spine to the limbs. Training barefoot is also beneficial in injury prevention as it works on the proprioception of the ankle and foot and allows you to know where your body is in space which will prevent you from injuries. So do what you can without shoes in regards to training.

anyone tried any feelmax shoes? specifically, the Osma model on asphalt? i was thinking about getting them to run a hill near my house to get some sort of barefoot benefit cuz my current shoes have thick heels and a supportive arch (as most do).

Yup, sprinting barefoot on the grass is a great feeling--i really feel it in the obliques and adductor magnus the next day.