My commuting bike and backup both have drop bars. It's more comfortable, for me the position is also better for speed and power. I don't have any trouble looking around or watching ahead - I just don't get that criticism of drop bars.

Yet on my backup which is set up more relaxed, I mostly rode on the hoods so on a whim I cut the hooks off a couple of weeks ago. Don't really need them, why have them, so I just cut them off. Leaving enough for the brake levers and just a little curve.