What Footwear System For Wet Conditions?

I think you need to learn all of the above, and choose an appropriate system for the conditions you expect. Nothing is perfect, and all of the techniques you mentioned have value.

In warm weather, quick drying socks and shoes are a good combination.

For one day outings in snow, when you can dry your stuff at night, WPB boots/shoes with SealSkinz are nice.

For shallow crossings (comfortably less than knee height), UL waders are simple and effective. (Deeper crossings are almost an entire skill/safety topic.)

For multi day backpack/pulk trips below freezing, you will want a way to keep your insulation dry: VBL/plastic bags/plastic socks, removable liners, and/or overshoes make sense.

Plastic Socks: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS3HPTH6

UL Overshoes: https://www.40below.com/collections/overboots

Borderline conditions can be worse, when you are certain to be wet and cold. Neoprene socks are the best warm-when-wet insulation I know, like a wetsuit. IME, NRS fit more comfortably than others I have tried.

To me the time for waterproof shoes is when my feet will never have a chance to dry between stream crossings or rain AND its cold.

I’m not sure if you will be constantly wet there. And lower GoreTex boots or shoes can eventually get wet too, they are just warmer when wet.

I’d probably pack an extra set of socks and the Sealskins and use trail runners if I expected some wet and some dry. If i expected constantly wet I’d go with GoreTex shoes AND plenty of extra socks since water might seep in.

Recently I hiked around in cold soggy weather in wet brush. My GoreTex boots had small leaks so I put the waterproof socks (which eventually leak) inside the boots. Feet stayed basically dry and the GoreTex boots still kept most of the water out (unlike mesh shoes which would have been soggy the whole time contributing to leaking socks and colder feet).