This post is dead, but I signed up just to write on this post.
Well.... Not to contradict the guy who worked for so many years with bearings, but...
Even though I don't have that much expertise on bearings, I have a few things to say that are totally my own opinion.
I never studied or worked with bearings. But I changed hundreds of them on my roller skates and later on Rollerblades. They do represent a difference in performance. But the higher performance bearings, for me, are pretty much the same.
Never tried the new ceramic ones, but... One day I will.
The way I see it, bearings are made to stand much higher speeds on industrial machines than we can reach on skates or roller skates. So, I would think they can stand very well when used on them.
Also, when we look at the speed those bearings work on drum pedals, and the normal use on them, as long as they're oiled and greased well, they are never used to a limit. Not by any human drummer. Maybe the Terminator or Robocop would reach the limit... But they don't exist.
So, I don't think that high performance bearings would be that much of a difference.
Also, I do agree with tightening the bearings too much will affect the performance. If they're too right, it will choke them, and they won't spin properly. That happens on roller skates too.
So, as long as they're installed correctly and kept greased, I would think that we don't need high performance or ceramic bearings on drum pedals. But again, that's just my opinion, and my point of view.
Maybe those better bearings spin a little more freely. And maybe that can be felt to a point. But not to affect the performance or speed of a drummer's feet.
But again, that's only my opinion and my view on this, after over 30 years of drumming and roller skating.