OP here....not that anyone probably cares, but I ended up getting some Bedrock Cairn Pro 3d. The had a sale running when they first released this new model at the beginning of the month.... I haven't worn them a lot yet, but i think I'm going to like them. I don't know yet if I'll use them as a primary backpacking shoe, but hiking for sure.
I was mostly on the fence about the strap over the toes versus between.... I like the flip flop style but figured for a camping shoe there might be times socks would be good. Well, after many of the comments here, and a lot of other reading I figured the thong style would probably be more stable on the foot for hiking, and the strap over the foot might be more restrictive to natural foot 'spread'