My take on my eggbeaters for what it is worth, like many things the "mushy" feel of eggbeaters is probably a matter of taste, I actually don't mind it. After some experience you pretty much know where the float ends. They don't really "click" out very positively, but I've had a lot of situations where I needed to get out and forgot to twist my foot the right way and still managed to get out of them without falling over. At the same time I've never really clipped out accidentally. I don't know how that is or if it is that way for everyone, but it works great for me.

As far as the hotspots go, I have some fairly stiff mountain shoes, and it basically feels to me like the whole sole is the pedal platform, and I have not had any problems in that regard.

I haven't used the ATACs though. Sorry if I'm repeating others.