Originally Posted by
elcruxio
It makes sense in a way. Clipping in gives some stability so you can have your foot further back from the pedal axle. Why you'd want that I no longer understand but fine. But riding flats with the axle below the ball of the foot feels rickety as f.... I don't ride flats with the mtb anymore but I have them on the citybike. My foot position is pretty midfoot depending on which shoes I have on.
I ride flats on my mountain bike and choose a more rearward foot position than I do on my road bike. Not mid-foot, but definitely closer. Road shoes just get the cleats slammed rearward and that's the end of it for me.