Boots HAVE to be tight to keep them from moving around on your foot and lower leg, otherwise your ski will wunder all over the place instead of going where the skier wants it to go. They are tightened to the point of almost being painful, which is why you see them unbuckle the boot at the end of the run. The same philosophy goes for recreational skiing, the boot has to be snug on the foot and lower leg to give you the control you need.
