You may not like them but you know there is no way you could stop in as short a distance without them.
Well there's the common misconception...
Anti lock brakes more often than not extend stopping distances, over an identical car without ABS. What ABS does do for you is allow you to continue to steer the car. A car without ABS that locks all four wheels up will stop far short of a car with ABS, it will however continue in a straight line, irrespective of what the driver does with the steering wheel.
Personally I think ABS in cars should be disabled unless the front wheels are trying to steer.