Since those bygone days, which I remember well, "hiking" boots have grown lighter, and much easier to break in (often you can go right from the store to the trail), concurrent with the shift from stitched to glued soles. Glued soles seem to be about as reliable as stitched - I have experienced stitched soles separating, even with those famed Norwegian welts.

Today's hikers generally wear out as a unit - when the sole is shot, so is the rest of the shoe, and it is time for a new pair.

A small roll of duct tape is a good thing to carry in your essentials bag. I used some recently to repair a companion's shoe whose sole had separated. Good for lots of other sticky situations.