The Discover 125M's petal disc brake, for example, is it really going to make a difference, or is it just for show?

Bajaj made a big deal of a petal disc brake on the Discover 125M, saying that it would improve heat dissipation and braking performance. Visually, it's an eye catching feature that separates it from many of its competitors in its class. Riders are divided, however, as to whether it actually gives a marked improvement in stopping power or feel over a standard disc or a well tuned drum brake. There's praise for the responsiveness and for others it's too much for a 125cc commuter. The other question is long term durability and maintenance costs. Is this a real performance upgrade, a clever bit of marketing, or a little bit of both?