If you started riding in the 70s, when bikes had those horrible non-ergonomic hoods, you got used to riding in the drops.

Even today, when I break out the winter bike, an 80s vintage Schwinn, I'm on the drops 90% of the time. I could get brakes with more comfortable hoods, but it's a back-up/winter bike. There's only so much I'm gonna spend on it.