i used spd pedals and cleats for years and found them to be 100 percent reliable and thought i was happy. then i saw a picture of crank brothers eggbeaters and thought the four entry points rather than two on the spds and one on the SL's might be and advantage. so i bought a pair and the cleats that go with them. pretty soon i bought four more pairs (i have five bikes) and haven't regretted it one bit.
BTW i ride every day, for about a 4-6000 mile per year average.
oh, and the one pair of cleats (bought NOS) have now held up for over 10,000 miles and all of the pedals were bought used. some very used. and all are still working fine.
some pics:
