I dunno - i'm using the zipp brake pads on my zipp firecrest carbon clinchers and the braking is a little grabby and unpredictable in the dry and next to non-existent in the wet.
This whole concept of "bad braking" and "over heating brake tracks" is utterly ridiculous with current carbon wheels. I've ridden them for about 8000 miles in 2013-2014, including some halfway serious descents where I grabbed hard for short periods (isn't that what you're supposed to do?), and as far as I'm concerned there is literally no issue with braking provided you use appropriate brake pads.
I'll defer to anyone who has actually personally experienced an exploding or deforming rim, but otherwise its all conjecture.
Too expensive? Wait for the end-of-year sales and shop around hard.