One thing to keep in mind concerning costs is that because Speedplay cleats also include the release mechanism, they are much more expensive to replace and probably much less durable than Eggbeater cleats. I have been using Eggbeaters for years mountain biking and haven't yet worn out my first set of cleats. I certainly wouldn't think that Eggbeaters are any harder to clip into than Speedplays, just different. For what it is worth, Eggbeaters are unbeatable for winter riding in the snow, regular SPDs tend to get clogged with ice