It is a '90 Honda Civic Standard.

They are not spongy and have done most of that stuff you are talking about. You do make an interesting point on there about brake compounds. I think my problem is the initial bite is identical to the rest of the pedal travel. It is tight, but no modulation feel. Obviously the harder I hit the brakes the harder they are grabbing the rotor, but I don't get the feeling in the foot like I'm used to, just seat of the pants.

I have used the same pads in a ITC Rabbit that I have in my Honda. Are the differences in feeling just coming from the way the system works, ie Master Cylinder, pedal angle, line lengths, etc?