I have had good luck with shoes personally.  In my near 30 years of adult bowling, I owned 2 pairs of shoes, one custom pair of Linds I got in 1987 and a pair of ABS Tour Ultras in 2002.  The ABS Tour Ultras were the precursor to the precursor of the current 3G Tour Ultras.

I can't say how good Dexters are, but can say my Tour Ultras (kangaroo) were amazing.  I had to replace mine two weeks ago because of the rubber on the push off shoe was getting old and lost its stickiness and my foot was slipping out from under me.  I purchased a pair of Brunswick TPU-X (on sale for less than $100) and they seem nice so far.  The insole is different, but for the price, it seems like a good deal.  I didn't want to spend the near $200 for a new pair of Tour Ultras just yet.  I will give these a try for now.

As for fit, my new TPU-Xs (size 11) feel a bit bigger than my old Tour Ultras (size 11). Like Dexter, the TPU-Xs only come with limited heals and soles (2 each), but for my limited bowling, it seems like enough for now.

I only have limited experience with the Tour Ultras. I personally couldn't get used to the protruding protector in front. And the shoes, while very comfortable, provide little arch and structural foot support. As a survivor of a bad cases of Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendonitis, I couldn't take risk of bowling in a non-supportive shoe. I sold the Tour Ultras after limited use. To be fair, I have a few bowling friends who love their Tour Ultras and wouldn't consider wearing anything else. The only solution is to try them on and make your own determination. Shoe requirements are a very personal thing.
 
I do have extensive experience with the Dexter 9s and the TPU-X (Pyramid brand equivalent). I have 700+ games on the 9s, and 500+ on the TPU-X's. I like them both, but they're very different shoes. The 9s are stiffer and provide more foot support. They're not stiff in an uncomfortable way -- they just provide great support. I have my custom orthotics in the shoes, so I can bowl long blocks without any pain/fatigue issues. As far as soles/heels, I had to buy a red leather heel (the only model I use). Other than that, I'm still using just what came with the shoes.
 
The TPU-X's are soft and cushy. The insoles form to your feet and sometimes it doesn't feel like I have shoes on at all. I'm not a terminal toe dragger, but do make some contact. The TPU-X's are not as industrial strength as the 9s, so I had a shoe repair shop cement a strip of non-marking black leather to the tip of the non-slide shoe for toe area protection. It looks like a natural extension of the shoe and it's worked out great.
 
I often ask myself if I could only keep one, which it would be. I'm happy with both, but it would probably be the 9s. I bowl a lot (20+ games a week), and I trust the 9s for overall foot support. But again, it all comes down to personal choice. We're all different.

I am 65 and I need stability.  I an also a toe dragger.  The SST8s were very stable, but I went through 3 push soles in 4 months because the velcro gave out.  The 3G Ultras were great for toe durability,  but I didn't like the slide sole.  They are set into the sole, and I was wearing out the thread in the non-replaceable part of the slide sole.  Also, the soles were thin and didn't provide much support.  I am now in the SST Tank.  It has the replaceable slide sole and, so far, has a durable drag toe.  My only complaint is the sole is not wide enough to give me the stability I am looking for.  In summary,   3G Ultras and SST Tanks are good for toe draggers, if you don't need a lot of support.   SST8 and 9s are great if you need stability and are not a toe dragger. I submitted my request for a more stable sole with a durable push toe to Dexter design team.   I am hoping they come up with something good.