Foot shifting while pedalling I have been contemplating clipless pedals as the next logical step. So after a bit of research and reading this question and it's answers

I find myself a bit unconvinced mainly because nothing covers something I notice myself doing a lot.

I change my feets position on the pedals quite a lot for no conscious reason, it feels right when I'm going uphill and my feet get hot spots at other times so I change to another part of the foot for a while. Mostly I move them a bit forwards or back, but I also move them outwards sometimes. Particularly when coasting I change position. For the first six months I wore jandals (flip flops), but for about a month I've been using very cheap flat soled sneakers with a pretty rigid sole which work really well for me.

When zooming around a tight corner I also take my inside leg off the pedal as you do on a motorbike, I've never come off on a corner but it's a reflex action when leaning I think. I lean right over so couldn't pedal anyway without the pedal hitting the ground.

I'm pretty old and I don't recall anyone back in my younger days using anything but normal pedals, not that I'd have noticed.  I had assumed moving your feet around was normal, but now I'm wondering if I should train myself out of the habit. Possibly it's all in my mind, but making a small change when working hard on a hill seems to use the leg muscles slightly differently and give me a stamina boost (I don't stand in the pedals).

I'm not racing anyone except myself, I just commute, but I like speed and I like pushing my limits.

My question is, how important is it to keep your feet in one position on the pedals. How much of an advantage do you gain from doing so?
Clipless pedals are a matter of preference - you don't have to use them. There are alternatives such as "half clips" which might suit you better. 

I've come to like mine, with mtb shoes and pedals that are designed to be rideable with clipless or normal shoes on either side. These allow you to ride in an alternative position (with the pedal under the arch of your foot if getting ready to stop, for example). It's often wet here and feet sliding around on the pedals can be a real nuisance. But since buying my clipless pedals &amp; shoes I've also bought a pair of pedals with much better grip against the soles than my old plastic platforms, so you don't need clipless to keep your feet from sliding