the first time I saw crocs were at boating marinas.. I am totally against them as a fashion shoe to wear anywhere but in times when its necessary and has a purpose.. like boating, and gardening, or for scrub shoes in the hospital..... alot of the boaters I know where them, that way you dont have to take off your shoes as soon as you get on the boat, and dont have to use the mr clean magic eraser to clean off the black marks from the soles..
btw I own croc flip flops and they are black so they look like regular flops.. and I use them for the garden ( b/c they come clean so easy) and for when I am going boating.

my friends here are big surfers and they lived in hawaii and aussie land for a while... they all wear uggs when they are done surfing, more out of habit from the years that they did it before, its not quite cold enough here to warrant them..