RE: Operation of Brakes on Tx
This is gonna be one of those things that you have to just go with what works for you. I'm a "slider" lever guy, always have been. I'm also a proponent of the JetTronic zero loss electric brake valve (the newer one that doesn't leak like a civ). It's a proportional valve, my latest one was purchased a year ago and they seem to really have gotten better compared to the older ones. I've also used BVM smooth stops. I like proportional braking and the slider allows a lot of flexibility with these types of brake systems.
Some swear by the elevator link mix. For me, in a full scale airplane you never push forward on the stick when braking, if anything it's the other way around so it never made sense to me to take weight off the mains where the brakes are and put it on the nose wheel while potentially inducing a skid or controlability issue. But that's just me. If I didn't have the extra channel I'd probably mix brakes to a switch like Tam does with his all in one brake setup.