Didn't they make this same complaint when she had heels in Metroid: Other M? They do serve a perpose. I can see them being used to house tiny jet engines in them. Moreso if her secondary jump jets are in her suit themsleves.
why ryona hasn't found the ire of folks seems pretty simple: it's not mainstream. Nintendo, smash bros and metriod are mainstream. This game is not, atleast I haven't heard about it. I'm guessing it's some indie PC game yes? if so I can see why no one paid much attention to such. But mind you if it does find it's way into the spotlight it'll get ravaged like the rest of the game genre.
Luck of the draw that you find a soical worker that cares. Very hard to find them these days in that profession.