I would agree that if I was restoring a bike to it's period glory I would keep the original brakes on, but this is a bike to ride with and not of any significant retro value.
I would like a couple of my bikes again -a GT Tequesta with U brake in that black and white zebra stripe (92 maybe??) and a Kona Kilauea, the grey one made from Tange Prestige. Now those I would want to restore with period parts.
By the way, how do I create a signature on my posts like most on here have done?