Because I was racing and I needed light shoes that stuck my foot to the pedal in a sprint, because wider shoes would not fit on the pedals, and because I was not aware that the damage was permanent until years later. Also, as in rock climbing, painful feet, at least while you were breaking the shoes in, was part of the experience of being a racer, unless you were fortunate enough to have pencil-shaped feet.

Had I become a tourist I probably would have used LL Bean camp moccasins.

Modern shoes are a boon. Before the mid '90s it was assumed that you had to sacrifice comfort if you wanted performance. I know that sounds stupid to those who never raced, but the idea that comfortable feet could help you perform better is a recent devleopment.