I've had/still have Shimano (various models), Magura, Formula and Hope. I have ridden numerous others with Avid and SRAM.
I actually like Guides (RS and RSC) and there is no denying that they are great brakes.
If something is "Better" than another, it's personal opinion and subjective, but IMO the best overall performer I've had/used are Hope.
Not once, in 3 years of ownership, have I had any issues with my E4's. I've bled them once because I felt guilty for not doing any maintenance on them. They still feel as crisp and as powerful as they did the day I put them on the bike.
The quality feel and build of Hope is second to none. When you see and feel them in the flesh, they are far superior in manufacture than anything else I've owned. No cheap plastics bits, no fiddly or wobbly little adjustment knobs, just solid machined parts and construction.
There is a reason many people wax lyrical about Hope brakes (and other Hope parts, but that's for another day). But not many people are willing to drop that sort of coin on a brake upgrade from their OEM spec'd Shimano/SRAM bike, and that makes for less pairs out there for people to actually see/use/play with.
I offer anyone who's thinking about a buying set to come a pedal of my bike and make up your own mind.
eace: