Clipless pedals are to bicycles like digital cameras are to photography. It's hard to go back, even if you don't particularly like the idea.

Are they necessary? No. Can you ride without them? Yes, even a road bike.

But if you do some serious fitness riding, you probably benefit from having some kind of device to keep your foot on the pedal. It's not just the idea of pulling up on the upstroke. Even if you don't do that at all, there is still an efficiency gain due to the fact that you don't hold back or waste any energy trying to keep your foot on the pedal. Toe clips and straps do that too, but not with the same level of convenience as clipless pedals do... if only because there are no straps to tighten and loosen. Because of that, they are actually safer... much safer in fact.

If you ride with toe clips but with loose straps, that's not the same thing. Clipless compares to full toe clips with straps tightened, but without that major inconvenience.

I can happily live the rest of my life without ever feeling I need a threadless headset and stem system, or without anything more than 9 speeds in back, but all in all, I prefer my clipless pedals for longer, faster rides.