Probably was just your rim / brake pad mix. I remember had a screeching bike like this too when i was young, but on my current bike with v brakes it does not screech.

If i would buy new, i probably would want to go for disc brakes, not that there'd be much other choice, haha. But i feel people have a warped view on v-brakes, i have no real complaints. Super simple mechanics. Big alpine passes, loaded bike, in the rain.. the stuff that people tell you is impossible is in my lived reality no problem at all. And holy shit do brake pads last a long time on those. I still like v-brakes, certainly not something that makes me want to buy a new bike.