Hitecs are more comfortable and don't require much wearing-in. I would recommend Hitecs over leather boots for the novice or occasional hiker. Avoid the Hitech Utah, though. I have a pair for casual use, but they are definitely not tough enough for real hiking. For the pro hiker with tough feet, avoid both these alternatives and go for a pricier boot.
Various options are available, some imported and some made locally.
I've been out of the market, except to get my boots resoled at Rocksole after 5 years of use. They've done a lot of distance in all sorts of conditions, and I haven't had any problems with them. Their newer range has resealable cylinders, and there are other brands of butane stoves on the market as well. For the pro hiker, avoid the Gaz stove - for a rather higher price you can get a benzene stove which is hotter, more robust, cheaper to fuel, less unstable and less susceptible to wind, cold and high altitude. I bought a Coleman Apex II, which looks like a moon landing unit and is hot as hell and a great talking point.