I had my doubts about these cleats about 10 years ago, so I bought some low-end Shimano MTB pedals with SPD cleats, got some low-end shoes, and tried them out. It was scary at first, but after practicing un-latching before every stop, I liked them, and now can't live without them. I still have the originals, haven't had any issues yet.
They all work, just a personal preference of what's good. For road bikes, my only recommendation is to find a road-bike compatible pedal that has 2 sides, since 1 side is a pain in the ass for quick starts. MTB pedals have clips on both sides.
Just practice unlatching to create muscle memory of unlatching before stopping, since falling on pavement hurts a lot more than falling on dirt.