I think the discussion of footprints is missing a couple of important considerations:
1) Deep footprints in soft ground rebound: there's a hydrostatic effect which makes the base of the footprint rise when the weight is withdrawn.
2) Fossilized stuff gets squashed. As a thick moist layer turns into thin dry layer, the relief of any footprint is going to be reduced.

What we're reading is a poorly considered polemic, rather than science.

Grant Hutchison