Doing brakes on a 72 Dart. Any upgrades or pad advice?

There's a reason asbestos brake pads went away. Notice that "auto mechanic" and exposure to dust is mentioned specifically for risks/causes of mesothelioma. It wasn't "tree hugger" BS that drove out asbestos brake pads, it was thousands of people in industry dying of cancer.
Mesothelioma - Symptoms and causes

And if you're too afraid of wearing out your rotors with semi-metallic pads, which will stop the car better anyway, then maybe just stop driving the car altogether and park it in a museum. Brake rotors wear out, that's what they're designed to do. The more aggressive the pad material is, the faster your car stops and the faster the rotors wear out.

So, it's really just a matter of whether you'd rather stop your car faster or wear out your rotors slower. Saving your rotors will seem pretty silly if you get in an accident because you didn't stop fast enough. If you drive the car, wearing out brake rotors is just part of the game.