Shimano and Magura systems utilise mineral oil, so levers/calipers aren't interchangeable with levers/calipers from systems that use DOT fluid (like Avid, Formula, Hope and Hayes). The seals used in each type of system are prone to swelling/deformation if used with the wrong type of brake fluid.
Avids are by far and away the most renowned for being noisey (check out the Avid turkey gobble thread, for example).
I love my Hopes, run them on three bike with no problems at all - the wife's Avid Juicy 7 are pain in the butt - pistons sticking going out of alignment. My LBS really rate Magura and Shimano.
Aside from the fluid issue, most brake levers use pistons designed for the calipers for the right flow level. ID of the hoses can also be different enough to cause them to pop off under pressure, or split after a short period on larger fittings. So no, in general, you can't reliably change levers from one brand to another. Like the guy above me said, you CAN sometimes change levers within the same brand, as long as the caliper is compatible.
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