I have Shimano A530s which are platform on one side and SPD on the other. At first I was thinking I should have maybe gotten a pedal that was SPD on both sides. I rarely rode without cycling shoes anyway and having SPD on only one side made it a little annoying when the SPD side of the pedal wasn't facing up. But along with getting more skilled at using them I've also grown to appreciate the versatility even though it's not something I take advantage of that much.

The cycling shoes I use for commuting have a flexible sole and a recessed cleat. They are very comfortable and can be worn all day. Not all cycling shoes are these super stiff things that are difficult to walk in.

The pedals on my winter bike are more like #2. They're aren't huge but they do have the pins. They work pretty good.

In my opinion clipless pedals and shoes don't offer a huge advantage to the typical commuter and can be easily done without. I happen to like them but if you're just getting started, the money might be better spent on lights or rain gear.