How are these different from interlock ones? Would you recommend these vs. interlock ones (if I plan to buy 2 mats to put them together?)

The only difference between the interlocking version of our 1/2" Premium Mega Mats and the straight cut version is just that. The interlocking mats can be interlocked together to create a full floor. If you are using the mats as a standalone mat or just using a couple of mats to put under equipment or an Olympic lifting platform, the straight cut version is ideal. If you are trying to cover a large area, we would suggest going with the interlocking version.