Originally Posted by
old's'cool
Here we go again, using a term like "stopping power" when we really mean the ratio between squeezing force on the lever to braking torque on the rim.
Ultimate stopping capability first of all depends on the coefficient of friction between the tires and the road, and secondly the ability of the rider to generate enough braking force to reach the maximum friction, which is typically when the tire just begins to slip. Any decent brake system from any vintage at least as far back as the 70s can generate enough braking torque on the front rim by someone of average strength to endo the bike on dry pavement, and enough on the rear to skid the tire, assuming the cables, pads, and general setup are up to par.
There are many advantages to a low ratio between the squeezing force on the lever to braking torque on the rim, that I am not contesting, but that does not mean it makes the bike's ultimate stopping capability any better.
I will back you up on that completely.
That being so, as a subjective matter, 90% of people will feel that less finger pressure with more braking power equals
more powerful brakes. They aren't going to care about the theory or more mechanical advantage. Also, brake pad quality and cable and housing quality have on average improved substantially in the last 3 decades or so. That is part of why modern brakes feel stronger.