The OP's discription sounded almost like I could have started writting it. I also started about the same time in 1996 and my mountain bike came with the toe clips. They worked for climbing and then I went with clipless for a while and then discovered at age 50 I wasn't doing as much climbing that I needed them, and the risk of maybe breaking some bones because I got locked up into my pedals and unable to get free in time made me rethink those clipless. I went back to the toe clips and now I ride bare bones platform pedals at age 65 on my hybrid. Whatever works for you and makes you comfortable is the way I see it.