I have the Joe Rocket Velocity's. This is a simple case of risk management with trade offs between safety and ease of use.
I bought these before I had my top case, with the purpose of finding a relatively safe shoe that would be comfortable for full days on campus (no storage options) and riding to destinations with the girlfriend (the mall, etc). These work very well for that purpose, the same way riding in a normal shoe would, but have the added motorcycle features of laceless design, toe slider, and ankle length protection.
However, the toe slider is useless as no one should EVER be riding that aggressively in these shoes, and the ankle length protection is marginal at best. Because of my body's build I have the tendency to roll my ankle a lot. In proper motorcycle boots you shouldn't be able to roll your ankle, but I have done it in these shoes. These shoes break in really easily and are comfortable for all day wear. They are not water resistant and they let a lot of air through, which is great in Georgia summers.
I also own a pair of Joe Rocket Meteors. Since my calves are too thick for most full length racing boots, the Meteors mid-length works great and provides excellent ankle and abrasion protection. These are waterproof, black, and can get super hot in direct sunlight. They are not great for walking around all day in, but are sufficient protection for spirited twisty days.
The reason I mentioned my top case and my Meteors was that I probably wouldn't have gotten the Velocity's if I had already owned the top case. In just about any wreck the Velocity's are only going to provide slightly more protection than your average tennis shoe laced really tight. If I had the top case first, I would probably still be wearing my Meteors on a day to day basis, and carrying my tennis shoes in my top case to change when I get to campus. I am definitely satisfied with the Velocity's, but paying $100 for a pair of shoes with a plastic toe slider isn't necessarily the best investment.
Final thought: Continue doing research on boots, and find the shoe that has the best value in safety, performance, and comfort, and don't hesitate to pay a boatload for them.