Chuck, you are completley missing the point of PowerGrips. They are not simply loose toe straps. They are correctly tensioned toe-straps that allow for foot release when mandated by 'stuff'. You could leave your SPD shoe laces ultra slack and get 2mm of separation from the shoe sole if that was important. I don't think it is. You are way overthinking this. PowerGrips ROCK! Enough said. A few enlightened riders consider them a viable alternative to clipless. The general public has been seduced by the tech of clipless. More power to them. I have never, however, heard of someone advocating going back to straps and cages. No one that wasn't a BDSM devotee... fess up Chuck, what's really the game here?
H