If you don't like riding fixed that's fine, but if you were doing it without a front brake, you didn't give it a fair shake.

The ACS Crossfire freewheels are pretty good. I've used a Shimano before, but that was a good while ago and I don't recall how long I used it. If freewheel noise is a concern for you, I believe the Shimanos are generally much louder than the ACS freewheels.