I'm with the OP on this one — I put platforms on my commuter, and they work great.

I can ride with any shoes, including sandals in the summer.

The "any shoes" option is especially good when cold weather hits.

I got tired of trying to keep my feet warm in cycling shoes.

I ride Sidi dominator mtb shoes and spd pedals on my commuter- - -i'm hardly aware that I'm clipping in and out- - - -riding in street shoes wouldn't be pleasant- - -cycling shoes are designed with stiff soles for a reason.

I tried commuting on flats for a while but I missed the feeling of power on the upstroke. Depending on the bike, I used clipless or toe clips.

I agree with the "whatever floats your boat" part, we are cyclists, we ride what we like, how we like, what works for one doesnt work for all.

Good points. I agree with them all.

Though I am intrigued with the sandals that are made for clipless as I wear sandals virtually all year long. It's just those really cold rainy or slushy days when the waterproof hiking boots work so well that make me stick with platform pedals.

It's kind of funny, I've read several people say the opposite - that they actually use sandals for when it gets really, really cold out. By using a Goretex (or otherwise windproof) outer sock, this lets them add several layers of insulation (socks usually) over their foot that they can't fit in a boot (or at least without buying several different sizes of the same boot).

Yes, this is my first 'winter' without sandals and my feet are already getting cooler as I can't put on thick and/or multiple socks or a waterproof exterior one. Really is is not cold yet (40F dry low) but my feet in mtb shoes with a thin wool sock feel cooler (not yet cold) than last year at 26F with a thick wool socks and sandals or 40F in rain with wool sock and waterproof one.