I had always ridden flat pedals since the time I started riding at 4. My first road bike as an adult had the straps and toe clips. I rode with those for about a month and then I went to Bontrager shoes and Wellgo SPD/flat combo (I commute to work pretty regular). In another thread, I relate how another cyclist was in the shop, taking a break from a ride. We started chatting and I told him what I was doing. He said, "I will tell you what my friend told me when I got my first pair of clipless...there are two types of cyclists...those who have fallen, and those who are about to fall." Needless to say, he was right. But I have only fallen once since I made the purchase. 0 MPH falls are embarrassing.

Ride the way you want (minus the earbuds...that is just plain dangerous and probably against the law in every country), but as other cyclists have told me and I am repeating it here...there is nothing quite like feeling you and the bike as one.