I have the Dainese boots you have listed. I've used them a couple times on long rides, not so much on short/in-town trips. I feel they offer great protection, and they're waterproof. An added plus is they are pretty "low-key", they don't look so much like motorcycle boots. With that said...
Yeah, in the lane I was in, I never ride in the right third. When you're RIGHT next to them, it would leave you no time to react.
On a related subject to the head check, the habit (need?) that I developed from riding the bike has carried to my car/SUV as well. I find myself head checking...
I typically ride in the center (#2 spot from the MSF) of the left lane (assuming two lanes in one direction). For some reason this week has been atypical.
Two more times today. One at speed on the highway. I was right next to her door when she started coming over. Luckily, she only came 1/2 into my lane. So coming home from work, I decided I would take the leisurely route through town ...where a woman in an Outback wagon decided to cut across...
My Merrel boots offer me at least this much protection. If that's all you want, then just buy a normal pair of boots so they have dual purpose.
Sadly, I have a pair of Dainese TRQ boots that I rarely wear. :-\
I have the T-Rex sliders. I've dropped my bike at a stop and have had my cover act as a sail and blow it over. Left and right side respectively. I have also low sided through a round-about at about 20 mph. In both cases the sliders have protected the bike better than I expected.
A new TiVo Roamio Plus and a 2014 VW Jetta TDI.
I almost had a new Triumph Street Triple R, but the salesman actually talked me out of it. At first I was like, "some salesman". Then I realized he was actually giving me good advice. Next year he will get my business.