This is a very tricky question with numerous tradeoffs.
To generalize, semi-metallic or sintered semi-metallic pads will have the highest coefficient of friction and initial bite. They are also noisier, cause greater rotor wear, and transmit more heat to the caliper and brake fluid, potentially causing fade during prolonged or repeated applications.
OEM NAO (organic) pads tend to have a fairly good balance of friction, longevity, and wear characteristics.
Many aftermarket "ceramic" pads have little or no metal elements and are targeted to a consumer that is afraid of noise and brake dust, thus creating a pad with horrible initial bite and generally low friction. I would not take these for free.
Racing pad manufacturers (EBC, Ferodo, Galfer, etc.) should have pretty good advice for you, and are likely to have moderately aggressive compounds available for any given application.
I run sintered semi-metallic pads where available (OEM on some of my vehicles). For true racing applications, I'll use carbon-metallic pads.
In your case, I'd tend to agree with EBC- those pads are good. There's a lot of friction material on truck pads, so that price isn't unreasonable. Short of that, consider going back to OEM Ford pads. Don't listen to anything the sales droid has to say at a national chain auto parts store- they don't know what they're talking about.
