The Hope mini brakes have been a disappointment for me too, they look cool but don't perform as well as my old XT's from 2000. I had that problem with the brake clamp cracking too which to Hope's credit they replaced FOC. A friend uses the same brake and he hasn't been impressed either, he reckons his Avids perform much better.
Some nice Formula brakes perhaps? I've got some Greg Minnaar "The One" brakes knocking about in a box in the garage, not FS unfortunately as they'll going on the IF ss which I plan on building and giving a thrash this year.