The 'beaters have a good rep among a lot of fixed clipless types.
As for shoes, I'm riding Pearl Izumi Vortex and like them. I don't think I'll ever have clipless shoes again that have nothing but velcro for closure. Give me a ratchet up top, I say. Someday I will have Sidi Dragon SRS's or Diadora Skorpiones. Either would rock, though the latter is apparently impossible to find?