I suspect there are trade offs that lead to the problem. I notice that people like their disc brakes. I've tested them but haven't had them on a bike of my own yet, and I'm not craving them. Is the tendency to squeal a price worth paying for brakes that work better than rim brakes?
I'm reminded of Click and Clack, the hilarious guys on the car maintenance radio call-in program. They used to say:
Europeans don't care if their brakes squeak, as long as they stop. American's don't care if their brakes stop, as long as they don't squeak.
Thoughts?