If the bars are mounted a little higher, the drops become a more comfortable position for riding. I agree that the hoods are used more often, but the drops are very useful for acceleration or for riding into a headwind.
A good solution for the Bianchi posted above would be the Nitto Technomic Deluxe stem. I put one on my Bridgestone to bring the bars up from 4" below saddle height to 1" below. The change made the drops a much more useful position for me.
