When you apply medium brakes at 163 knots, you are getting the maximum amount of energy into the brakes as soon as possible.
I only have about 5000 hours on the classic, but can assure you, that landing with flaps 30 and no auto brakes and reverse as quickly as you can, you can delay brake application until about 80 knots, and barely have them register in the green.
The problem that I think your "friend" is running into, is the companies SOP of mandating using auto brakes; dumbing down the procedures for the lowest common denominator. I used to regularly NOT use auto brakes, and would often arrive at the chocks with condensation on the brakes.