Wow, sounds like you got a great deal on some nice shoes. I have never ridden with a ratchet buckle, but I intend to! The ones I tried on in the store were terrific. I loved how well they helped the shoes fit just right, and I love the idea, for centuries, of being able to reach down and loosen or tighten just a little depending on how much effort I need for that stretch, or if my feet need a little change in pressure, etc.
I will be curious to know how your stiff carbon soles feel at the end of a long day...like a century.
"The best rides are the ones where you bite off much more than you can chew, and live through it." ~ Doug Bradbury