"There is the same intensity in IDPA also but the equipment is a LOT less daunting."
Not really. Had you compared apples to apples, instead of oranges, you would see that the biggest difference is simply the number of magazines carried. As IDPA has nothing remotely equivalent to Open, and even Limited is a stretch, your observations on optics and mag capacity are inapplicable.
Compare revolver to revolver, production to production and limited/10 to cdp and you will have a far more accurate comparison. The fact that USPSA shooters carry more mags is a direct function of counts per stage. A shooter gets FAR more trigger time at any USPSA event, justifying the entry fee and travel.
As for the cleats, etc.; all I've ever seen are cross-trainer or running shoes. Far more common on civilians than "photographer" vests with rolls of quarters in the pockets......
Whatever works for you.
