I cannot believe that all this esoteric discussion is really necessary. I mean, how much area does this taper really represent? It's effect is apparently minimal relative to the effects of pad material transfer, pad/rotor mating, and the increase in adherent friction (not abrasive friction) that comes with these two events.
See
THE NATURE OF BRAKING FRICTION As for the area discussion, look at it this way.
If you have two brake pads of the same material, and all else is held equal, including the force at the brake pedal, the pressure applied to each pad is the same. In the larger pad, the lbs per square inch applied to the rotor is less than in the smaller pad, but the increase in area compensates for the lower psi. Friction is the same.
Any clearer?
