Get the stickiest tires you can find, and learn threshold braking. ABS is a substitute for true threshold braking, and very very rarely is a good substitute for it. A good driver can typicaly stop faster without the "aid" of ABS if he (or she) utilizes the technique of threshold braking.
The key behind it, is the fact that tires offer the most grip when they in a state of some slip while still rolling, usually it is around 7% slip, but really depends on the tire. ABS systems kick in when ANY slip is detected (the better systems do try to accomodate for the little bit of slip) where threshold braking is all about holding the car right on that razor's edge between still kinda rolling and sliding. ABS sytems, by there very nature, kick above and below that line very rapidly, not taking full advantage of it; with the faster, better systems able to take better advantage of it though.
Bottom line, most people can't do it, and I don't think there is anybody that can do it every single time (heck, Mr. Schumacher even locks 'em up on occasion) so we have ABS.
As far as swapping components between systems, etc. well, for the most part I would be amazed if they work at all, but kepe in mind, that you have absolutely no way of knowing if you have actually improved your system, or made it worse, at least not without extensive testing, on a closed track, and with very very expensive test equipment, that I'm not sure many of us have ever even seen, let alone have access to.
