Well Honda disk brakes of that era are not to be compared with disks of even the 80's. Mine works, but it takes quite a squeeze to get it to lock and if I'm moving any good speed it won't. Now that is with stock MC and rubber lines but there is a lot to be said about how well they don't work.
Drums are no harder to work on than disks and with the dual actuating shoes that they have, they should provide the same amount of stopping power as a good set of 80's style disks. If someone told you that drums are hard, then they either never worked on them or had someone tell them they are hard to work on and took that. They require the occasional adjusting just like the rear drum. Process is outlined very detailed in the manuals. Plus one less thing to worry about leaking all over paint. Look at the bikes on the forums here, there's plenty of front drums. Those guys have figured them out.
Stainless lines add some to the system, at least you will not have any ballooning lines. I like having some flex in the lines since otherwise disks are ON or OFF. With a little flex I can get some feather out of them. The major issue is the lack of surface ratio between pad and rotor, and that they like to lock up and not retract if left to sit a while. They do work better on smaller bikes, the 550 I have in the shop has the same brakes practically and and they are a complete joke on that bike.
I know the snow bird thing as well, I live in southern Oklahoma, well that and the fact that Ok has some of the worst drivers regardless of if they are from the state or not. I swear they don't teach the kids how to drive before handing them a license. I don't ride my toys to commute and I try to stay away from all the main people going areas, I live out in the country so I can ride for miles only see a cow or 2.
