I have to say my front brake is rubbish!
same
Quite simple, this type of brake was the only brake type in production for many years (over 40) and they are not rubbish, they are still used on top class racing bikes even today.
They work well with metal wheels because the metal can withstand the heat produced when braking, plus metal has a better heat conduction that plastic, therefore the heat produced is dissipated over the complete rim and not just on the braking surface like the plastic wheels.
Metal wheels do not suffer as much as plastic when it comes to brake wear, when braking on long hills the heat produced by braking starts to melt the plastic surface of C5 wheels, firstly the outer surface of the plastic rim starts to granulate wearing the surface off even quicker, then the plastic starts to soften as the heat increases, and if the brakes are applied for an extended period on a worn rim the inner tube blows out of the rim. This blow out can and does also happen with metal rims, mainly with ali wheels, when the rim has been subjected to very heavy use e.g. MTBs that are often used for downhill racing. But, a metal wheel will hold out 100 times longer than a C5 plastic one.
Some of the new plastics that have been produced since 1985 are harder, stronger, and can withstand much more heat than that that was used for the C5 wheels.
If you say the C5 front brake is no good then I disagree with you, but if you say the braking system, which consists of callipers, blocks, cables wheels etc. is no good then I agree with you. OK olé?