'Nuther brake question

Still getting used to the hairpin descents here in NZ. :eek:
I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts about the actual pads you use on your brakes?
Are there significant differences between certain makes, etc. I don't mean the brake set (mine are Shimano 105s), but the individual pads.

I'm now a little more wussy, after hurtling down a hill only to discover that it became steeper and steeper at the bottom, with an intersection at the very bottom - at which I couldn't stop! Only divine intervention allowed me to cut through the traffic in a split, life-saving, second! :o :eek: :eek:

So, I'm fast developing my descent technique, which is coming along quite nicely, but I'm also rapidly wearing out the little pads (overcompensating now!). :o

It seems we pay so much attention to other aspects of our bikes - including the brakes, but I've never heard any specific comments about the little pad that does all the work. Does anyone have any opinions.
Is one piece of rubber as good as the next?

I don't know much about brake pads, but one thing I learned early on in my mountain biking life is to keep the rims clean and occasionally rough up the pads with a bit of sandpaper. When it feels like my brakes are not getting a good enough grip, even though my adjustments are OK, I get out the scrubber pads and sandpaper. It makes a difference.