MikeC-
No, I wouldn't want to pay $2000 for a set of calipers...and neither does Ford, that's why they don't do the tests. I don't disagree that they could, but they don't. They'll take random samples, but each part isn't tested...and realistically, they couldn't be.
Consumers ARE the final testers for any vehicle. No manufacturer can duplicate every instance a vehicle will be put through on the road, so they preform a reasonable amount of tests on test vehicles to make sure that under most normal use, the vehicle will preform as expected; and be safe. I'm not stating an opionon, I'm stating fact. Do a little research and you'll find this to be true.
Afterall, why would there be a need for TSBs, recalls and such if a vehicle has been fully tested by the car maker? Maybe you're too new to the ST world to know this, but Job 1 2001 STs, espically early ones, had a fuel door that would rub on the fender when opened, eventually rubbing through the paint. The fix was a new hinge. Why would Ford put a product out like this? They didn't know of the problem until the consumer found it. Consumers do the final tests.
I'm not suggesting getting rid of the Trac, but I certinaly would be leary of going back with Ford calipers (read: cheap calipers). I'd opt for an aftermarket set from a reputable company. When you deal with a huge coporation that deals with contractors who have the lowest bid, you're bound to have a few parts that aren't as good as they could be...this is when aftermarket is so good; a company can specialize in specific types of parts, and make fewer numbers, and quality is normally a lot higher.
I'm no fool, mass produced vehicles are simply a collection of parts that were built as cheaply as possible...at least vehicles in this price bracket (and by all of the Big Three, no matter the car). Usually the result is a good vehicle that will last for a while given proper upkeep, but every now and then, you get some bad parts or a bad vehicle. I'm just a big fan of the aftermarket, better parts that preform better.