So, it's a hybrid with a $2000 surcharge for removing the rack and fender mounts?

Noobs. The real pros put drop bars on their full sus.

Honestly I don't know how people ride drop bars. I have a bike with them but using the lower bars is incredibly uncomfortable and feels like I have very little control...kinda wish I had just stuck with my flat bar bike...

No, it's a 90's MTB with less gear range.

I have an old road bike with drop bars. Still feels more natural to have the flat bars, but I do really like being able to switch my grip around so my wrists don't become fatigued. You can hold drop bars in one of 4 or 5 ways.

Ever since I've first used drop bars I can't really go back. They just provide souch more versatility, one is not locked into one position. Maybe two if there are horns.

The drops are used less frequently but still during almost every ride.

And I do have MTB as well.

I've been using a Marin DSX 2 for 4 years and can't go back to drop bars now. It's partly the particulars of the cycling infrastructure available to me (sometimes exists, but is rarely fit for purpose) and the range of terrains my commute covers (almost all of them) that benefits from extra control, but I also find the wider grip much more comfortable than any of positions available with drop bars.

I ride a 40mm rise renthal for my handlebars. My buddy rides a 70mm. We're both avid downhill bikers. I can't even imagine what riding even a slight incline would be like on flat bars let alone drops so I'm glad you've come to the dark side. Pretty soon you'll be flying over jumps and drops like the rest of us.

I just got back from a cycling tour with a friend who rode a flat bar gravel bike.
It offered a significant advantage: He could strap the tent poles to his handlebars.
The only place for them on my drop bar bike was strapped to the side of the top tube, and with that my legs kept rubbing against them.

It's the opposite for me. My commute is 22km on agricultural roads with good pavement, through open fields.
The major obstacle is wind. Drop bars legit save me 10 minutes of commute time per day, and make the commute fun.
And that's the beauty of it. You can choose what fits your use case best.

My wife rides a flat bar gravel bike and absolutely loves it. I didn't know they were considered silly up until now...and I still don't get why.

4 or 5? I can only think of three... Up on the hoods, down in the drops, and relaxed on the flats (relaxed perhaps a misnomer - I don't like not having my fingers on the brakes).

I'm more than comfortable with having the breaks be a bit away, which is probably why I counted a few more. I can think of two positions in the drop and two up on the hood, but one of each has no way to reach the breaks without moving your hands.

@Elting @ClockworkOtter the 'can't reach brakes' positions are fine for uphill grinds. You know where the brakes are more for grabbing so the bike doesn't roll backwards.

Normal hoods position
further back at the bend (more relaxed)
flats
drops (on the horizontal part)
drops (hands on the inside bend for fast descents with maximum braking power)
and sometimes I put my palms on top of the brake horns, to be as upright as possible

@mech @ClockworkOtter I find the flats to be the most upright. Palms on hoods is for upright, but able to brake.Edit: to be clear this is "bodies and geometry are weird" not "your doing it wrong"

I think the sense of control also depends on your bike fit. If the bike's reach is too long or the deop is too long, it is harder to get used to it