That's like saying your eldest kid is the protector. No, you are the responsible adult, it's your job to take care of those little piglets. Protect and take care of your toes like they're the five pairs of identical twin kids of your feet.
If your toes have special needs, there's always steel tipped shoes. 👷👍
Really? My mortons toe is a good amount longer than my big toe, but neither foots has ever been hurt. Also, my toes are very controllable and I can pick up all sorts of stuff. They're sweet.
Never broken a toe, but both my long 2nd toes are curled. I have size 13s as an adult, and I remember outgrowing shoes frequently but still wearing them past when I should have because I hated shoe shopping. I think I basically bound m y feet out of laziness.
I used to think the same thing about my toes, even down thinking I did it myself ...
Then I had kids who have my weird curled toes too, and I know damned well Ive never let them wear shoes that are too small. Theyre just built that way.