I honestly am against footsteps. Sure, it'd add to depth but keep in mind that any larger group will make tremendous noise that way. Also, some chars run around barefooded, they'd need expections, which will rsult in more work.
While I see that it'd be a good addition on it's own, anything with more than actually one player will be noisy, since the sounds sill be off.
Edit: About the player being able to be only first person, would be kinda silly but also kinda good.I think the solution is not destruction but adapting the player. Try to make the POV of third person view smaller, maybe?