Hmmm -- Interesting discussion/perspectives. I don't care for platform pedals (w/ or w/o clips) at all; in fact, I feel insecure/unconnected to my bike unless clipped in.

A lot of my annual mileage is accumulated during commutes and other urban rides -- a lot of it stop/go in traffic or on our MUP system. This discussion got me thinking about why that preference; it certainly doesn't have anything to do with power/hammering/hills etc. per se for me. Rather, I think I just feel more 'in control' in traffic with spd; can't really say why, and perhaps it's illusory, but there it is.

Apart from the statutory three comedy falls when learning to clip in/out a decade or so ago, I've never had a moment where releasing my shoe(s) from the pedals was an issue, and as far as clipping out/in at lights etc. it's so 'second nature' by now that I don't even notice it. I've never used single-sided road pedals though (always Shimano mountain spd) -- perhaps there's a difference?

I have Forte Campus pedals on my mountain bike. SPD attachments on one side, platform on the other. Clip in when riding trails, use the platform with street shoes while using the bike as an urban commuter.