I still use toe clips and straps. I can use normal shoes for riding around town, waterproof shoes and boots for winter riding.
I never tighten the straps, if you feel the need for that kind of efficiency, you should be using clipless. Loose straps still give a lot of advantages over plain platform, in terms of keeping your feet safely on the pedal and in pedalling efficiency. I can twist my feet around for "float", and release my feet at a moments notice. Several times I have slid off, and managed to get my feet out during the slide (on ice,muddy 4x4 ruts etc).
You have to chose your footware with care. No-one uses the old-fashioned slotted cleat to keep your foot firmly on the pedal, but most leisure cycling shoes have horizontal ridges which hook onto the pedal cage. These are bad news, since they stop any float and prevent a swift exit.