Drum vs Disc, Power vs non Power

My opinion:
The higher the speed and longer duration braking demands better design and quality of parts.
The drum design is flawed because it pushes outward on a thin cast iron sleeve - combined with high heat causes problems when put in severe conditions. Add splashing water on there while they are glowing and the drum is bound to warp or maybe explode. Have you ever been going 150 down a 1 mile hill in a 3200 pound car and tried to stop on a dime? I have had many factory brake systems fade to the floor many times and go back to quasi normal 30 seconds later. Most the time they can handle this treatment only about 5 consecutive times before wheel bearing grease is cooked, drums and discs are warped. I have had drum brakes temporarily fail many times after driving thru a low water bridge or really soaked part of the road.
Road racing or spirited touring type driving will demand continual severe braking cycles. Larger tires, larger wheels both also place added demand on brakes, both in leverage and traction.

Its all about what you do with the car. If you plan to drive moderately, drums must be fine as people have been running them for years. I had a 69 coronet big block with large 4 wheel manual drums and it worked great with autozone pads. But I did not push the limits of the braking system much at all as I knew it could get me in trouble.