Roadie cleats are just annoying, and hassle a newbie doesn't need (unless they really need the three-bolt shoes). So a two-bolt recessed cleat system, of which SPD is cheap and works. Move to another system to address whatever flaw in SPD becomes an issue, if necessary.
I've been using ATACs as an experiment this year, and while they lack the ease of clipping-in of SPD, they seem like an excellent compromise for general use - walkable cleats and pedals that (so far) don't seem to develop an annoying click with wear. Lots of float if that's your thing. Pedals are expensive, but not if they last twice as long...
I think I'll stick to SPDs on my mountain bike though, as they're easier to unclip and then re-clip (ATAC requires you to re-position your foot after the cleat ejects) and I've got plenty of SPD pedals. Also the Brompton, because there doesn't appear to be such a thing as a quick-release ATAC pedal.
My race bike has Look Keo on it. They work well, but the cleats have a half-life second only to overshoes, and they're a liability in the presence of mud. That's the sort of thing that soon becomes boring if you're doing any amount of walking.