I sometimes ride flats popping up to the shops and things like that, however should we stand in the path of progress and maybe that is what the OP wants to do.
How much rough off road do you do trying to keep up with friends on the technical sections, do you intend to progress, do you like new or newer technology, are you a flat cap a slippers brigade. All questions that maybe we should have asked.
not standing in the way of anything, merely supplying an alternate view rather than the, clipless best thing since sliced bread night and day difference you'll suddenly improve by 100mph and clipless moments are only funny never painful or dangerous....... A little reading on the net will turn up plenty of MTBers that have moved back from clipless to flat, you'll also find some that vary between the two depending on what they're doing. My own reading would indicate that those moving back to, or sticking with, flats tend to be those just doing it for fun. Possibly riding with like minded people or taking their families out on trails etc. Basically an entire world that exists outside of the racing fraternity.
Friends? what are these things you speak of?
I think you'll be able to class me as the long ride, multi surface, avoiding anything to steep or tricky, type.
The OP should go with what they want based on their needs and info gleaned, I'm just broadening the amount of info
