ya, IMO it's a bunch of baloney. when i was younger i mowed lawns for a living, 6-8 hours a day, five days a week. much, much more force on the ONE and only hand position on the mower handle. not to mention it was vibrating like a jackhammer. never needed drop bars on it. or on my eight and nine day cross-country trips on my motorcycles. and how about the motocrossers. do THEY need drops with those oh, so important multiple hand positions? i think not. i could go on you know..

like the one and only position on ski poles, carrying a 12 ga. for hour after hour grouse hunting. pulling my kid around in a wagon. no drops on that thing. no drops on metal detectors or F1 steering wheels, or mtb handlebars and believe you me there is much much more trauma to the hands off road than on road. bascarts at the grocery store? FLATBAR. no drops at the gas pump. no drops on my hammers or wrenches. wheelbarrow. lot of pressure there and no drops. or the shovel, rake, hoe or axe either.

"oh, mom i can't finish my peas because my spoon doesn't have drops on it, my hands are too tired". please!

and "mr. golf pro? don't you have any drivers with drops on them? i can't seem to get any distance at all on this POS flat handled one."

there's more.... but i've exhausted myself.