[mr.pure]

Samples don't ALWAYS go into production

True what dat man sez

TRUE! Sorry, my fault! But sold samples in adidas retailstores/Outlets/Fac.Outlets ALWAYS go into prod.!

Errrrrr, once again, NO, they don't !
Number 6 used to sell nothing but samples and the vast majority never made it to production.

Samples were originally made in that size as 9, in the US, was THE average with the highest percentage of males being that size.
If the shoe worked in that size it would most likely work slightly bigger or slightly smaller.
When they started making shoes/samples, I dare say they gave a shit about what they looked like in a photograph !