If you never rode with straps and slotted cleats then you don;t know how much more of a pain and a danger (in heavy traffic for beginners) they might be.

Slip foot in, seat the cleat, reach down and pull on strap to tighten, ride, then when stopping reach down to loosen strap, pull up and out, repeat.

Clipless are much easier and more efficient, step on, ride, small rotation out, done.

You can set up the clipless cleats to be near maximum angle when riding so the clip out is really easy 4 degrees or something. Most people have trouble because they have the cleats angled so that they have to swing way out before it disengages.

Sounds like you should go with a loose powergrip or just a flat pedal if you have major damage.