Unless something is wrong with your brakes, the usual cause of excessive brake pad/disk wear is driving style. If you want to get on it hard and brake hard, something has to wear, i.e. your brakes. Why not plan ahead and let the engine (in top gear) slow you down a bit and then only use the brakes for the final slow to stop? I wouldn't shift down to slow the car. That was normal before good brakes were available, but isn't really justifiable now.

Of course, if you prefer to drive aggressively, you get to pay the price.

My pads on the '82 300D last about 80k to 100k miles. (And I'm seldom late to an appointment either.....)

Wes