They aren’t actually heavy but think and crush resistant, the stuff you can get away with under neoprene is crazy but it’s apples to potatoes, in neo you have greater insulation from the material but also buoyancy, in the shell you have to layer the same buoyancy into it.
the neo socks will give you a greater range of boot/fin options, I have long feet and match whatever boot I’m using to whatever fin I’m using, my Zeagle recon “L” work perfectly with low top converse and the XL work with Hollis or DUI boots, yea I have way to much stuff! I often envy people who can just buy something and be happy with it for years, I don’t understand them but envy a little.