I do not agree with this statement.
First, the TRP Spyre with 160mm disc I have on my Birdy Titanium are really OK and do not have much more power than the Ridea caliper on my Brompton. The rotor are TRP rotor but I do not know what brake pads were mounted by Pacific Cycles.
The Shimano Deore hydraulics of my Birdy III are much more powerful than the TRP Spyre with the same disc diameter of 160mm. The reason for this is the type of Shimano disc and brake pads chosen by Riese & Müller (rotor for only resin brake pads with Shimano resin pads, I think its G03S).
I have G04S semi-metal with Shimano XT Ice Tech rotor and these are much more progressive and require more power on the lever to obtain the same braking force.