I'd agree with this statement (disclaimer - I have no formal "fit" training although I've fit many riders/racers over the last 30 years including high level duathletes, a slew of racers, and probably a couple hundred recreational riders).

A good fit starts at the foot/pedal area. Once you have a solid set up there you can then set the saddle position (height arc and actual fore/aft placement). Finally you fit the reach aspect by using the saddle position.

Without a good reference position for your foot (and with platforms, even with toe clips, it'll change from shoe to shoe, pedal to pedal, even sock to sock).

If budget is a concern for pedals then I'd spend the money on the pedals/shoes before I got a high dollar fit. You may be able to get off year shoes (they don't change very much from year to year) and a basic set of clipless will cost just over $100 in a shop. Get a Look type set up if you have normal feet/legs. Don't get a weird setup, even if it's less expensive. I say "Look type" only because it's so ubiquitous every shop will have something (Shimano, Look, others) and you can get cleats etc anywhere.

If safety is a concern then rest assured that clipless are only a little less unwieldy than platforms, and mini-toe clips really don't do much. Toe clips would be the last thing I'd recommend for a new rider.

Unless... there's a biomechanical aspect, like you can't twist your foot to unclip from clipless pedals.