The problem is, they go out in ski boots, try it without instruction (which is usually the case), and HATE the sport because the boots don't flex the way they need to. They get frustrated (understandably) and think it's too hard so they leave the experience thinking THIS SUCKS. In a perfect world, we'd require everyone that rents/demos to also go out with an experienced person. However, that's just not feasible or logistically applicable. If we're trying to encourage people into the sport, we need to coax them into something that doesn't scare them away.
The other aspect is if ski boots are the absolute only possibility, is it better than them not being able to try it at all? That also doesn't get people into the sport So there's a no win situation here.