Choosing a mouse pad is not about finding "the best performer". Virtually any gaming mouse pad will be as accurate as the next (because accuracy is in the mouse sensor).
I don't understand the "1% better for shooters" argument. Whoever claimed anything like that? The companies don't as far as I'm aware.
The point is about finding a pad that fits your preferences. Do you like cloth or plastic, or something else? How much friction do you prefer? How large does it need to be? How thick is good, 2mm or 4mm, or even thicker? How do you grip the mouse and what kind of a mouse pad would work best with your grip style? Are you willing to pay for improved durability like fray resistant, stitched edges? These are the types of questions you should be asking when choosing a mouse pad.
The $15 pad I was referring to earlier was a Steelseries QcK. Its glide, comfort, durability and ease of cleaning are all inferior to my current Zowie G-TF. For what it's worth, I immediately noticed an improvement in my mouse control after switching. I prefer as little friction as possible but I hate hard plastic pads. Chancing from QcK to G-TF made it easier to avoid jerky movements and keep the mouse stable - I definitely noticed an improvement in my accuracy in a fast paced game called Quake Live.