Your summary is essentially correct, but you have to be familiar with brand names and the different products offered within the same brand and be able to compare them to other brands in order to select a pad with the characteristics you are seeking. The average parts store clerk will not be capable of helping you in this endeavor.

After doing a lot of research back in the late eighties, I replaced the OE pads with "Repco Deluxe". They require more pedal effort, but they don't dust, squeal, or chew up the rotors, and I estimate their service life, front and rear, at about 75K miles. Of course, service life will vary with driving conditions and driving style.

It is my understanding that these pads are now known as PBR Deluxe, and if they are the same as my 14 year old Repco Deluxe pads, I highly recommend them.

I found in race track hot lapping sessions that these pads are not ideal, but they should be more than adequate for any type of normal street and highway driving.

Duke