The releases in the brake lever work differently. Instead of effectively lengthening the wire, they simply return to further from the handlebar. You still have all the braking power. just a longer reach to the lever. Now in some, like the current Tektros, the release pops off as soon as you squeeze the brake. But others, like older Tektros and the Diacompes for many years, stay on. A real plus if you are riding and your wheel goes out of true and rubs the brake pad like after I crashed in a race. You can (and I did) release the brake and race with all your braking power intact. And you can do it keeping both hands on the bars, nice if that wheel is seriously out (as mine was). (I finished in the money. Thank you, Diacompe.) Another plus, with a second release elsewhere (edit: yes, two in series) , you can set the second as a parking brake and still pull wheels with ease. Best of both worlds!

Ben