I had previously a 7.5 FX disc and it is a great bike. Later swapped for a newer 7.4 FX that my son rides few times now.
I got a 7.2FX for my wife that rarely rides and now I got her a cheap e-bike I got on CL - Now she is able to keep pace if I ride on leisure pace.

As for me, 3 years ago I got a cheap aluminum road bike and since them didn't look back.
Then, time goes on and learned about the comfort of steel bikes for a longish rides and along learned the fun of building/maintaining a bike.
One thing I like on drop bars is that you have various positions to hold the handlebar and in long rides you can change the position.
And lastly, I can go much faster with a road bike than hybrid ones