Are Barefoot Shoes Good for Squats and Heavy Lifting

I have been seeing a lot of guys at my local gym in Vancouver switching to barefoot style shoes for their whole leg day. I am currently using a raised heel lifter but I am curious if barefoot shoes are actually good for squats and general heavy lifting.

I feel like my ankle mobility is decent but I wonder if being closer to the floor would help with my stability and balance. I have looked at the Vivobarefoot models but they are quite expensive. I do not want to buy them if they are just a fad and will not actually help my numbers.

Does anyone find that they get more power from the ground when they are not wearing a thick sole? I am a bit worried about the lack of arch support when I am holding four hundred pounds on my back. If you have made the switch please let me know how it affected your form.