Keep in mind that NO click in style of pedal will ever be totally "emergency" easy to snap out of. If they were the retention would not be sufficient to deal with the usual pedalling forces. So any system will take SOME time to learn to deal with and to trust.

I'm not saying they are the best but I went with Shimano and clone maker mountain bike SPD's for all my road bikes. I found that with the lower tension settings my feet would miraculously disengage when the adrenaline began flowing yet still do OK for casual riding around.

I also found out that clipping in and out was easier when the pedals and cleats got a weekly or so waxing with some White Lightning "chain" wax. Around here the WL was useless for chains but it makes for a superb and decently long lasting pedal and cleat lube which makes snapping in and out very easy yet still lets the pedals provide very close to the original amount of retention until I flex my ankle sideways... or just jam my foot from A-the pedal to B- the ground when a crash seems imminent.

Note that this is for pavement bikes only. My offroad bikes all proudly wear traction pinned platform pedals. Around here everything except the old folk's wheelchair accesable walking trails are hard enough that I don't ever want to be clipped to the bike.