By controlability, do you refer to the driver's threshold braking ability? If a driver can brake to the point of not locking up, and will not cross that point, then all things being equal, wouldn't that be better than an ABS car that is intermittently locking up?

Also, what is the brake bias like on the non-ABS car? IMO, Civics may have a tad too much bias on the fronts. Brake bias at full braking wouldn't be as much of an issue on an ABS car...

ABS has been continually stressed that a car won't stop quicker...it's more of retaining some control in extreme braking situations because you can't really steer a car with the fronts locked up. Or, ABS can be more of a stabilizing thing, as many cars in the early days of ABS actually had antilock brakes on the rears only.

Of course, I don't have no physics or mechanical degree, so what do I know? =)