The prime reason for the superior braking of MAFAC is the significantly larger contact area of the pads. Admittedly, the multiple adjustments allow you to fine tube their performance to a far greater extent but only in the hands of a knowledgeable mechanic. In the hands of an the hands of an uninformed mechanic, it is very easy to have a significant decrease in performance. Weinmann and Universal, on the other hand, are more foolproof.