The rear tyres unless on an odd sort of design like a very old Cirtoen will see the rear tyres following the route of the fronts, which will already have cleared the road of most standing water.
Not if you're swerving or turning, they don't.
The front wheels provide the overwhelming majority of braking force, better with deeper treads in front in theory providing the best braking?.
Agreed (which is why discs on the back axles are silly). But the weight transfer means that there is very little weight on the back axle under sharp braking to counter the tendancy to aquaplane.
In most cases, lack of braking capability in dry conditions is not a serious problem (reactions are probably the biggest variable). But wet conditions are a different matter.
Lack of traction on the drive axle is annoying when trying to get started from rest, but its not a serious hazard in itself. Neither is lack of braking force/traction. Even if the wheels lock, you still have a decent amount of retarding force so you're scrubbing speed. If you can't stop in time, at least the impact is at a reduced speed.
I've had a rear axle aquaplane once before, and it is really hard to regain control. There are numerous videos with professional drivers that demonstrate this.
I don't disgree with your reasoning, Gordon. In most driving conditions your theory is sound. Personally, I'm happy to forgo dry braking capability for predictabilty in the wet.
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