lyx2no,
You used Penguins to counter what the scientists wrote. I ran with that, because I think penguins look clowny, not that I really thought they looked like a penguin, with bunyons yet.... geees.
It was reported that with such large flat feet, H floresiensis had to walk like a clown. I post things from a variety of sources. They, in turn, quote Nature. New Science is a reporting site for breaking news in science. Yes they write in the vernacular.
Try fitting your feet with skin diving fins. This is an exaggeration, but you would find you have to lift your knee high. You would be ungainly. H f. could not defend themselves against big cats. There were plenty of those inland over the globe, except isolated islands.
H habilis remains are found with big cat' trash. Small 3-4 footers with simple rock tools, would be a lot better off avoiding carnivores whenever possible.
They were a strong swimmer.
h Floresiensis swam to the Island. That is a long swim, and not one for novices. Since there has been occupation on Flores for 800,000 years some early hominid made the swim.
If the anthropologists make it back to that island, and caves anywhere around the region, perhaps we can have some questions answered. I would like to see a skeleton 800,000 years old.