Brother Boba,
If you're developing fade during highway drives, then I wouldn't want to be ANYWHERE near you on the road! If you can get it, watch a bit of the 24 Hours of LeMans on today (12 Jun 04) on Speed Channel. especially watch after dark- after about 5:00 PM EST. You'll see brake rotors glowing in the dark as cars brake into corners, because they have been hard on and off the brakes, almost EVERY few seconds, for HOURS. THAT's when you get fade! If this is happening to you, then Ay Carumba!
I do think my brakes are not very progressive - a little bit of pedal gets a little bit of braking: a little more pedal gets a LOT more braking. That's what I think I'd like to improve.
I kind of dig painted calipers, but I like to keep a consistent color theme. I put yellow calipers on a black TR8 that was trimmed subtly along Johnny Player Special lines, with yellow details. On an SSB, I'd take a look at a darker blue. Your milage may vary...

PS> Cross hatching generally decreases pad life. OK, if you know that up front.