Hopefully a last point on the raging debate on flats versus clipless. I am not aware (a constant state of being) of rigid carbon or even plastic soled shoes that help in the power transfer to flat pedals. They may exist but they are out of my universe - but am sure someone will step up and correct me. Perhaps it’s not so much the pedals themselves but the mating of a stout soled shoe which doesn’t flex to the pedal which helps in power delivery. This goes for toe straps/rat traps too.

I really only notice the BOAs on my shoes need to be tightened when climbing - since I do tend to pull up a tad at about the 6-7:00 part of the pedal stroke (bad habit?). There was a thread about BOAs loosening, or not being properly tightened to begin with, and how would this be noticed if the shoe was only being used to push down?