I'm not really concerned about the exhaust heat. There's a decent amount of clearance, and the fans are gonna be way stronger than convective currents. Since it's also at the bottom of the stairs, it also sits in what is usually the coolest part of my apartment.
If I need more support while handling shoes, I just sit on the stairs or lean against the wall or hold on to the railing. In other words, there are an abundance of anchor points that aren't free standing.
And thanks for the kind words. This is the first thing I've fabricated out of wood in years. It was very satisfying to finally finish it - metaphorically, as it's not actually stained or sealed.
Beatiful workmanship though, I wish I could fabricate things like that.