Brake pads are a very personal item. It's like scotch, cigars or breast size, one type doesn't please everyone.
To me, the OE pads are pretty incredible. I don't note the lack of modulation you, and others, have noted. I also find the initial grabby nature to be good and helpful in working the modulation. Of course, I'm only speaking about street driving.
In my experience, street pads, even ones made to make the driver feel confident, are still pads designed within the constraints of all temperature, all environment use and ones that to be reasonably quiet and last a reasonable amount of time (during the warranty period). So, while they may feel good and work better, or at least enough to make good magazine numbers and to make the auto writers gush about them, they will generally not hold up well to prolonged heat.
So, this weekend, on track at Summit Point, I expect to find pads that work very well for a few laps and then drop off quickly. Honestly, to have a pad last a 30 minute session is too much to ask for a pad fitted to a production car. The major manufacturers will make a range of pads for this car. Since 95% of them will never see track use, most pads will be made to alleviate concerns about dust. Frankly, that's sad. Some level of performance will likely be lost to keep the wheels more clean.
What will likely happen is soon, Performance Friction and Hawk will have their off road race compound pads available for this application. Those pads will be exactly what is needed. PF and Hawk are like the "Coke & Pepsi" of brake pads. The major players and usually people have one or the other they prefer. Mine is PF. I've used their compound class race pads on my Rx7's for 15 years.
I'm eager to see what the OE pads can do this weekend, but I don't expect much. I'll be on street tires and won't be out to set any records, so I expect the pads to perform well (for a while, anyway).
Hopefully, I'll have something good to provide.
