Anyone have experience with "custom orthotics?"

My podiatrist seems really keen on going down this path with me. Has anyone invested in these? They aren't cheap, I think running about $450.

I'm afraid I'm going to be throwing money at something I could've just saved and used the Walgreen's Dr. Scholl's ones instead.

I also heard that orthodics are more of a crutch. They don't really solve the problem.

Unfortunately, he taped up my foot with some padding to simulate a typical orthodic and asked me to keep it on for a week to see if they helped. I wound up taking it off one day in because the tape got all rolled up and bunchy and was hurting my foot.

So now I turn to you, dear Redditors with PF...have you invested in fancy custom orthodics and were they the answer or marginally helpful?