At 63 I've accepted I'm way more comfortable with drops than in a more upright flat-bar position. I tend to get into sort of a "slouch" with more upright geo on a bike (at least on my various bikes). Then my neck gets stiff, I feel compressed, my lungs aren't open. The drops allow me to stay stretched out as others mention. And I ride primarily offroad--it's nice to not have every little bump going straight up through your spine. I "float" more over the bike with drops.