1) Check to ensure that the hubs are adjusted properly. If you don't know how to do it, just go to a shop (or back to your Performance store). It's pretty simple. Many hubs come from the mfr with less-than-optimal adjustment.

2) Your test of hub "smoothness" is a poor test. Your wheels must turn easily under load, not in a workstand. And really, whether a wheel turns for several minutes in your garage is not very important. Ultegra hubs are of very high quality.