I understand both your points, but you can also play basketball barefoot.

Got this from somewhere:

"Your pedal stroke is much more effective when your foot is attached to the pedal and can exert force through a greater range of the pedaling circle (with a platform pedal you can only exert force on the downstroke part of the circle). Toe clips do offer some of this efficiency, but they can be difficult to get in and out of when starting and stopping. In order for toe clips to be the most effective, the strap should be tightened after you get your foot in - you then need to remember to loosen the strap to let your foot out when you need to stop."

It doesn't matter what you ride, or how you ride it, but it's no mystery that MOST top level cyclists use clipless pedals - I'm sure there's more a reason than "it looks cool".

Straps have their purpose, and I think if I rode casually or I had to get on and off the bike a lot to walk (like a bicycle messenger), I would use straps which I did use in the past and my wife still uses; I can't persuade her to use clipless because she doesn't want to fall at a stoplight. Even the late, great Sheldon Brown used straps.

I think it's utterly personal preference and NOT because one rider is somehow "weaker" or has less "fitness level and strength as a rider" as you eluded to because they use clipless. If clipless was NOT advantageous, I highly doubt that most competetive cyclist would be using them. There is a biomechanical advantage in using clipless pedals. But, if somebody doesn't want to use them and they do well... that's cool too.

Just FYI, I'm not a road bike snob by any means so I'm not being biased... this is what I ride mostly (flatland BMX):