Deck screws vs hidden fasteners, took a chance on the clips
I had to pick between standard deck screws and those hidden fastener clips for a 600 square foot cedar deck last month, and honestly I went with the clips because the homeowner wanted that clean no-screw look. The install took way longer since every board needs the spacing jig and pre-drilling, but after the first rain the surface looks flawless and nobody's tripping on popped screw heads. For anyone who's used both, does the hidden system actually hold up over a few winters or did I just sign up for a sagging mess?
Man, I used to roll my eyes at those clips and figured they were just a way to charge more for a weaker hold. After two winters on a job I did with them though, zero pops and the boards stayed flat, so I've come around. Your mileage may vary with cedar since it moves a lot, but I'd bet you're fine.