Lockheed the Inov8's are cool and interesting but they won't hold up like a vff will. They are more for an indoor purpose and they aren't really meant to take a beating. If the local shop is going to be getting them then I would say wait and see if they fit your needs.
I haven't heard much about the Inov8 glove shoe that would make them worth buying over a VFF. Inov8 has a lot of great shoes other than those though. I'm a big fan of the F-Lite 220 for roads and the X-Talon 190 for trails.
i dont think those are on the same level as the VFFs. if i were going to do something like that i would probably wait and try the VIVO sandal thing coming out
I've always thought those things look like they would hurt trying to get them over hairy feet. Not that I have hairy feet. Cuz I don't! I'm a girl! Girls don't have hairy feet. Just sayin'.
I had a chance to try on the Skins and they are definitely not a running shoe. At least they wouldn't last very long as such. Very comfortable feel though and if I can find a deal on them, I wouldn't object to getting a pair for work.