I'm 65 and have never ridden with drops for 60 years. My wrists have never hurt and I have never failed to find a comfortable riding position. Dropped handlebars may be just right for some but are not necessarily the be-all and end-all of choices for all cyclists of any age.

Maybe, just maybe ,the bike store personnel were looking out for the OP's benefit because they understood that some cyclists request drop bars or road bikes no matter how inappropriate or uncomfortable, because the customer wants to emulate the "Kool Kids."