I disagree. There are reasons to use a cleated system that are unrelated to wanting to go faster - being connected to the bike makes it a different experience. You may not like it or want it, but you have no basis for judging whether somebody else will or won't.

Would you also say that only people who are planning on racing should buy an aggressive geometry racing-style bicycle? Lots of us with no racing aspirations enjoy light racing-style bicycles. To you, that might be a waste of money or seem like some kind of pretension, but how do you know whether some other person will or won't get enjoyment from such a bicycle?