Little update: brake feel is improving
First off, a lot of brake parts are new (or new to the car). The flex hoses are all new, rigid lines partly new, partly replaced by perfect condition ones. The calipers are from a (unknown to me) Boxster S. Rear discs are new, pads came with the caliper (90% meat on them). Front discs come from my wreck, they had some rust on the hub part, but almost no wear on the brake surface. Again pads came with the calipers. ABS unit came from the wreck.
So I am thinking that the improvement is simply coming from the bedding in / wearing in of all the parts. Travel is better now, pedal is stiffer and brake force improved as well. I have changed a fair amount of brake parts in the past, but never had such a bad feeling as I had this time. That said, those have always been new parts....
Next step up will be a pressure brake bleed when fall arrives. The ABS discussion is an interesting one to me. The manual states there is no need for ABS only units to go through the activation process etc. I guess I will just ensure that air comes out by braking into the ABS a few times
Which would be a good confirmation that it actually works in my car now...