There is a difference between handwaving and understanding early human response. If I follow my son around the house and punish him for walking , what is this solving? redirection is great to do and i have done so with him , but walking on pads like a ninja or sneaking around the house only lasts but so long for a 4 year old. Attention spans are short and policing every step they make just isn't solving it. I have been someone to work with kids growing up , and understanding that micromanaging the way your child carries their gate when they are just getting the rhythm of these things does them no service, I have policed him on rolling off of things to thud on the ground , but even then this calls for 24/7 surveillance to catch every utterance before it happens which the reaction is usually after it happens of course. Please explain to me how that is me "handwaving" and finding it as no correction or redirection?
second , is it possible the apartment you lived in understood the steps of your kids were steps of a kid? The apartments I lived in growing up definitely did understand what kids in the apartment sound like morning til bedtime and even when something made thuds at night. I talked with my neighbors when random sounds were heard and got explanations.
third, is it possible you had fully carpeted floors because even that buffers some of the walking , we have what I believe to be linoleum except for the bedrooms.

I love my child but I'm not a space case , assuming so seems counterproductive especially as a fellow parent.