So if I use them for long enough I'll eventually be as happy on a rough single track with drops as I will with flats? If it's something I'm going to be on all day I don't want my heart to be going into overdrive every time I clip a stone.

Also how much difference to speed do the position that drop bars give actually make. Compared to my old clunky mountain bike when I got on the cyclocross I could effortlessly go from standing to spinning frantically in top gear in no time at all, and comfortably carry on doing that. Is that because of my position or just because it was a hugely better bike?