I've been an avid road biker for years and really don't like riding anything more than a few casual miles without being clipped in. Having said that I recently have been building a commuter bike that will also be a grocery getter and casual around towner. If I'm going 1-2 miles to the grocery store I don't care about being clipped in, don't want to walk around the store clicking and clacking, but I would like to have a solid platform to push off for the sweet wheelies and curb hops I do.
This is the solution I went with
http://bike.shimano.com/publish/cont..._mountain.html
I can wear my SPD MTB shoes for commuting, and anything from running shoes to loafers to flip-flops the rest of the time. Keep in mind these things aren't light. They're heavy but also feel stout, like they could take quite a beating. Hope this helps.