I don't use them that much, even when descending at high speed I've found myself to be just fine and in control on the hoods, I don't race but on occasion I will go in the drops if I just fancy a change/want to give it the beans.
My daily is a flat bar, I can pop the pads of the palm on the grips to lower my upper body and have even rested my forearms there sometimes. The tops of the bars on this bike are 2" higher than the hoods on the audax/tourer/winter racer, this bike in turn is 2" higher than the hoods on my carbon ride though the former is actually longer in the top tube/longer wheelbase and the drops are only 1" higher than on the carbon so I can get a lowish position despite the slightly more upright position on the hoods/tops.
When I get the 'retro-bikes' out it really depends on my mood as to whether I get in the drops, they are more for pootling around (though tbh it's more pootling all round than anything else
) but it's nice to hammer a 60 year old frame and know that that's what it's meant to be, ridden with gusto from time to time.
I don't care if someone has their bum in the air, so long as they are enjoying the ride and presenting no harm/danger to anyone, do things however you like on whatever you like, be it a freebie/from the tip bike or something really exotic and 'expensive', it's all good