To put a cap on this old thread, my wife & I are completely platform now. 2 or 3 pairs of SPD pedals, and I think 2 pairs of half-SPD pedals are now littering my garage.

On the wife's&my hardtails, I got Wellgo MG-1 and MG-2 from fleabay, about $20 each pair. My commuter still has those original super-cheap and crappy BASE CAMP pedals. The axles are bent. Some day I'll get better pedals for the commuter too, but for now these are OK, my commuting rides are always very casual.