If you want easy to maintain but good performance then perhaps look at BB7's - they are easily as good if not better than many hydraulic brakes, cheap and about as reliable and hassle free as you can get. I have some partnered with SD7 levers and they are fearsomely powerful and just need the pad adjusters clicked round a bit from time to time. Job done.
On the subject of Avid - I also have some Juicy Ultimates on my Scalpel and they are better than XTR, Hope M4 and Hayes Strokers whcih I have also tried. Maybe its just me ?

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Old enough to know better but doesn't.
MTB (modern) : Cannondale RZ120 / Lefty & Niner Air 9 / RDO
MTB (retro) : Pace RC200-F2
Road : Boardman Team Carbon
Shed art : Raleigh Dynatech Diablo