I'm going to sound like an old grouch, but I never thought cantis were hard to set up. Sure, there was a trick to getting them set up right, but it wasn't that hard, and it was just what you did. Now, i hear everybody complaining that cantis are so hard to adjust, and don't work right, etc etc...
You've all just been spoiled by v-brakes and discs
Cantis work fine. The trick that i used to use was to hold the lever in using something like a couple of elastic bands or a cycling glove, and then put a loop of thin wire, like telephone wire, over the tire, and between the rim and the back of the pad. This gave the correct amount of toe-in. Then loosen the pad attachment bolt, let the pad and arm sit comfortably, and then re-tighten.