What's that little thing in the center of the pedal? A lever that pushes the pins out when you step on it? Pins retract when you let your foot off? Doesn't look like it of course but what does it do? Does it prevent the pedal from spinning easily when there is no weight on it, and frees it up to spin when pedaling? Like a clutch of sorts?
I still think rubber pedals and spiked shoes would be the way to go.
We'll have more on the pedals shortly but the little hatch is where you can drop in needle bearings.