Hopefully you can find an effective test. I am on the flat when I start so that is less complicating. I do know mountain bikers who love these pedals, so I guess that it is relative. The reason why my fitter doesn't care for them is I guess he had clients who had too many problems clipping into them.

He has strongly recommended against Time and Candy pedals for me - in his experience petite people have more problems with those pedals they are not adjustable. With my foot/ankle issues I am listening to him, though I might experiment with Time when I become stronger.