I have a question for the masses. I have a a Giant Escape 2 that I ride roughly 80 miles a week. I try to read and research as much as I can so I don't repeat a question that you guys have answered before.

What kind of differences performance wise are we talking about between hydraulic and cable driven disc brakes? I live in FL (Tampa area) so the terrarian is flat and I'm not a ride in the rain kinda guy. My Escape had rim brakes and they do just fine for me but I'm thinking about stepping up to a dual sport type of bike or maybe a trail bike and I'm curious if disk brakes would be of benefit over rim brakes in my area. By the way, this a great website and I've gotten so much useful info from just reading as much as I have over the past few weeks.

Not enough to matter really .. the Rim is just a really Big Disc.

There are Hydraulic Rim brakes Too .. Magura Of Germany has been making them for decades. [I like Mine]

they keep redesigning the MTB Disc Brakes , but the design of their HS33 rim brake has stood the test of time.

Disc brakes work with a damaged rim, since you dont ride in the rain their wet braking benefit is Moot.

Like the Hydraulic discs in your car the hydraulics compensate for pad wear reduced thickness

with a cable brake, the adjuster is You , or the occasional check up at your Local Bike shop.

As far as the diff between cable and hydro discs,hydros require less regular maintenance(they self adjust for pad wear and no cables to adjust/lube) and have better feel. Cables are a touch lighter,cheaper,and it's easier to lengthen/shorten them if you make a drastic change in your handlebar.

As for whether you'd see any benefits;hard to say. Hydros would require less maintenance,cables would require fewer adjustments for the pads,and the pads are generally easier to change. In both cases,you have to make sure when removing/installing the wheels that you remain consistent in the tightness of the skewers or you'll get brake rub. So it boils down to how much wrenching you want to do on your bike. Also,this all might be moot since the majority of DS bikes have discs,except the lowest base models,so the ones you're looking at might only come in disc.