I hear ceramic pads don't have the same dust problems as regular pads. I think also they eat the rotors more than regular pads. Give them a try. I might try aftermarket ceramic pads when they need to be replaced.
LOL, you got the "It's Normal'' line too. I lost count of the times I had to take my 04 Ranger in to three different dealers because of hard shifting, along with a spark knock /detonation problem and other squeaks and rattles. I did figure out the shifting problem because of the idiots at one of the dealers. I had the transmission flushed at 30,000 miles and on the way home I noticed it was shifting smooth. After I got home I pulled the dipstick to check behind them and guess what...the fluid was barely on the bottom of the stick, not even within the operating range! When I made them fill it up, the hard shifting returned. After about a week of this, I lowered the fluid to the bottom of the operating range and it started shifting smoothly again. I still like my Ranger but Ford service sucks. I now enjoy bashing Ford every chance I get.
On the contrary, I have had good luck out of my local Dodge dealer (knock on wood). I have a bad case of the common RSN on my 140’’WB Sprinter. The service manager actually acknowledged there was a problem and had the regional Sprinter tech come from another state to have a test drive. He determined it was the drive shaft angle causing the problem. They are now waiting on a kit to fix the problem. He also told me it that didn’t fix the problem they would replace the transmission or whatever else to keep me happy. This might be lip service, but we will see.