Has shoe tread technology changed in the last however many years?

I only ask because I wonder what limit shoe tread technology has. I mean, how many times can you change the design of tread on the bottom of a shoe – and who really cares? I bet by reading this you’ve thought more about shoe tread than you ever have.

Most shoes can handle most surfaces just fine. Is that because shoe tread is in a golden age? We’ve gotten a lot of snow out here, and you can see footprints everywhere. My sneakers did ok in the snow, but not great. You’d think that boot tread is maybe better for walking on snow/ice, but it’s really not. So why ever change it?

Nike spends a lot of time making designer tread. Which nobody ever looks at. Talk about the most under-appreciated art in the world.

I’m not counting dress shoes, because they both suck and they aren’t feasible for walking on anything. They just look nice.