[QUOTE=TimEarl;16193796]
.... So they can't be that bad, can they?
The only real problem with spoon brakes is the lack of heat capacity. Otherwise they're fine. They're still OK for children's bikes, and for utility bikes in relatively flat areas, but the limited heat capacity is what makes them unsuited for today's faster speeds, or for use in hilly terrain.
A modern bike on a long downhill can heat the spoon until it's red hot and simply melts apart.