Pantyhose are my favorite crossdressing item. They were the first item I ever wore, and remain the thing I wear the most in women's attire.
My wife loves pantyhose and frequently wears them. Whenever she is in a dress or skirt, she's wearing hose or tights. It's rare to find her out of hose when she is in a skirt or dress, and then only in summer. She has open toed sandals, but most of her collection of shoes (quite the collection!) are peep toe or less exposure of the ends of her toes (maybe some toe cleavage showing at the top).
With regards to comfort; I've said it before, I'll say it here again, and I'll likely say it many more times. Life is too short for cheap pantyhose. If your pantyhose are uncomfortable, you're wearing the wrong pantyhose. 70% of women are wearing the wrong bra size. It's hardly surprising that most women are most likely wearing the wrong kind of pantyhose for them. Same goes for crossdressers.
Pantyhose aren't for all occasions, all environments, but they've been unfairly criticized for a number of faults that in reality go back to choosing the wrong pantyhose.
Also, while pantyhose sales trended down from 1998-2008, the downward trend has plateaued, and some hosiery companies are seeing an increase in sheer hosiery, not just tights (which have been selling pretty hot the last few years themselves). There are considerably more frequent sightings of stars and models wearing sheer hose now too.
