I scarcely wear the kind of shoes that need polished any more.

Yep....shoes look nicer, crisper polished. Hate the scuffed toe look.
Also have a nice leather valise (or large briefcase, top opening) I use that I like to keep clean as well as it seasons nicely from use.

I do.

Always. Scuffed toes on a mans dress shoes is not a good sign. It's like wearing dirty clothes.

No, not since I was discharged from the Navy in 1990.

I haven't even owned a pair of footwear that can be polished since '99, but before then I would put a mirror shine on my jump boots every day.

Is cleaning the same thing as polishing? If it is, then I do polish my shoes sometimes. I do not like bubble gum stuck to the soles of my shoes or dog poop for that matter. I think the polishing of Chrome ,silver or gold is more satisfying. I'll need to consider polishing my running shoes. I think it may help to decrease the air drag resistance and boost morale in my cul-de-sac. But then you equate polishing with water-proofing. Oh no they have two very distinct and different results. Polishing on the one hand renders shiny and dazzling surface while attracting the wrong element. Water-proofing renders a stinky, slimy and perhaps dull finish that guarantees years of anonymity.

I have one pair of shoes, well a pair of shoes and a pair of slippers. I wear the shows to work and they get filthy, they last about two years. I do not polish them, actually I do not even clean them except with compressed air.

I use to when I was in the military. I occasionally do when I have to wear a suit.

I love polished shoes. I have an old makeshift shoe kit with all the tools including of course a good buffer cloth and shoe brush. I regularly polish both my black leather dress shoes and my penny loafers. It is a small but satisfaction-filled project each time.

I only wear tennis shoes so this is not relevant to me

Yes, I polish my (many) leather shoes, though I haven't worn any of them in a while.