It's also brought up in the book Born to Run, which I read recently, which deals in part with the Tarahumaras of NW Mexico, who are legendary distance (50+ mile) runners. There has been some shift in opinion the past few years, as newer shoes have reduced "drop" (I use Altra Lone Peak 3.0s, which have zero mm difference between heel and forefoot midsole height) in order to better mimic barefoot mechanics without leaving the runner vulnerable to pressure point piercings from rocks and roots.

But a lot of it comes down to understanding one's own biomechanics. I'm a supinator who is between a midfoot and heel striker, but I've worked on running on the balls of my feet more with a quicker cadence (around three steps a second) with a higher calf/heel kick. That has helped make impact even less. Not that impact is necessarily a bad thing; there's more involved in sustained walking than in rapid-fire jumping/running.

But if you have the time and want a bit more on this, do read Born to Run sometime. It's a great set of stories within a larger narrative of ultra/ridge running.