Stainless has chromium in it and it is going to be stronger, harder and more springy than mild steel used in most rims.

According to my riding log I put way over 2000 miles on steel-rimmed bicycles last year, most on the Huffy, but about three hundred on an old Fuji ten-speed I have and many hundreds on this "LeToaster" before I swapped the alloy rims onto it last week.

I have never had any accidents from lack of braking power, but brain-power has as much to do with bicycle riding as brake-power does, and if you do not have it then no matter how good your bike brakes you are doomed. Since I have put many thousands of miles on steel rims and coaster brakes over the last few years with no brake-related problems, it backs up just how brilliant I am.