[Yakaru]

That's just it though -- my question was NOT how to avoid the brake. It was how to avoid hitting the brake so much faster than the front because of the controls - I effectively always have the rear covered, but covering the front is exceedingly uncomfortable so I don't tend to do it outside of my practice.
I know how to use both brakes -- I practice it regularly, I've read the books; all the advice on that front is stuff I already do (it's great advice, that's why I do it, but it isn't about my issue). The issue I'm struggling with is how to get my panic reaction timing down a bit better so that the delay from engaging the rear to engaging the front is shorter so that I can let off the rear sooner and have less risk of it locking up. I'm getting the feeling it's an unusual issue/question to have from all the responses being about plain brake technique.