I prefer the unstrapped clip or half-clip to bare platforms, for the slight aid in foot positioning and retention. Most of my rides are commutes, about 3600/2000 miles for commute/weekends respectively, so I suppose I'm in the class of "occasional recreation cyclists". Upstroke torque is not something that I'm concerned with, and my feet never slip accidentally. It seems to me that those are the keys to how much we'd value the secure connection with clips/straps or clipless.