ABS is no fun. Don't waste the money to upgrade the brakes on a stock vehicle. Change the brake pads if you're so worried about it. I've got a 97 coupe with no ABS and I haven't ever unintentionally slid in the rain. Its just experience, in addition to being a safe driver. Granted in NYC, "safe" probably has a different meaning than here in BFE, Indiana, but its just common sense.

From my experience driving others' cars, ABS doesn't really help too much.