as far as switching from clipless to flats, that's not really an issue for me really. I rode the dirt jumper and bmx bike forever with flats and never really had much of an issue. I suppose its more about wether I want to buy new winter boots or not and how much snow/ice I want to deal with in my spd's because im not in the crank bros family. thinking flats are better suited to the shenanigans that may come up during a routine stomping exercise but that means a warm, waterproof ankle height boot/ shoe. I had on the salomon gore tex hiker at active endeavors over the weekend and all bt pulled the trigger. they had a toe squeak that I couldn't get over when I walked, otherwise they would be in my shoe bin.