I have not used the BB7 road models, so I can only share my experience with BB7 Mtn calipers with compatible long-pull hooded levers (Tektro). My BB7's outperform any brake that I've owned in varied conditions (dry, wet, snowy, muddy). Lockup? Of course! If I want to. I prefer not to skid, though.
My points of comparison (excluding the ones that don't measure up) are:
- Avid Single Digit 7 V-brakes with salmon pads and SD-7 levers. These are great brakes. They offer similar stopping power and modulation in dry conditions (when set up the way I like them) to the BB7's. They do lose some effectiveness in the wet.
- Campagnolo Record (8 and 10 speed). Excellent brakes. Again, similar braking power to the BB7's in the dry, though the 23mm tires were the limiting factor there.

So, unless there is an inherently different performance level with the BB7 road setup, I think something is not right with your setup. Either the wrong levers, bad setup/adjustment, or flimsy cables.

If things haven't changed with Avid's specs, the easy way to tell which you have is the color of the calipers. Black=mountain calipers (long pull) silver=road calipers (short pull). Hooded levers are available for either.