The one thing no-one has said is that they followed the Avid recommended set up of advancing the pistons with the pads out (someone earlier did alude to it) using a 1mm spacer card to stop the pistons closing tight.Pulling to the bar and failing to stop, nearly having several crashes, was my main gripe.
What are brakes for?
Do they serve that purpose?
No, then they're not fit for purpose.
The R's WERE shite until that process. Now, coupled with a good bleed and Uberbike pads, they are as good as most stuff-predictable, powerful and definitely have good modulation.
I have ridden motorbikes for years, from crosses to fastroad bikes, still do, and brakes are my first check-if not good, I move on. The speeds and weights we talk about with ebikes cannot even compare to hauling a CRF or R1 to a stop from nearly 3 figure speeds (honest officer, I said nearly).
Horses for courses I suppose, but confidence is a prerequisite for biking,and we all ride/feel different. Just don't get caught up in the ad man's ever expanding blurb net, and ride to the limits of what you can afford and enjoy.