I'm with @
BobbyG - it is nice at times to just be able to jump on with whatever shoes you are wearing. I've got Giro MTB shoes without the cleat, simply for the stiff sole, but often I just ride in whatever sneakers I have on. I do 40-50 mile rides just fine doing so, all my bikes have platform pedals. And yes, some of those styles from the 70s and 80s are quite painful, but I've found styles that work for me.