platforms are great! so are clipless pedals! that's why both my regular commuter and my winter beast have worn forte campus pedals (combo SPD/platform) for many years now.

i love the versatility of being able to clip-in or not, whenever i want, and the freedom to wear any kind of shoes that i want to and just hop on the bike and go.

many people seem to hate finding the correct side of the pedal with combos, but after nearly a decade of daily riding with them, that's not even remotely an issue for me anymore.

for me, it's absolutely a "best of both worlds" kind of deal, but for many others it's apparently just the opposite.... strokes and folks.......