38 certainly isn't old fart. I think you'd have to be in your 70s for some members to call you old!
The brakes have always had a lot of feel but it shouldn't feel like warped discs. That would be a violent judder and if that is the case then there is something wrong.
Have a look here viewtopic.php?f=17&t=32481
Sometimes the best thing to do is a few hard stops following the bedding in procedure incase it's just the two surfaces (pad and disc) that are causing the issue.
Never take a risk with brakes though, especially in a car that can travel briskly and weighs 1500 kgs