After driving my wife's passat on and off for the past few months I feel my en brakes lack any sort of bite at all.
They stop the car with no fuss and the pedal feels fine, no sinking.
Rear pads textar about a year or so old.
Front pads mintex at least 5/6 years since I replaced then but plenty of material still on them(6-7mm)

Fluid was changed 2/3 years ago, brakes bled last year when I replaced rear pipe. No leaks, fluid level not dropping.

Am I looking at a dodgy master cylinder? Or is it just how they are?
Am I just unfairly comparing them to a more modern brake setup?
Do pads expire with age?