Is it OK to never use the drops on your road bike?

I probably use drops less than 5% of the time, but I would definitely still miss them.  

So why are there not more flat bar bikes? I have even read here that you have more control with a flat bar. I am just to old at 82 to have to ride with my hands on my socks, they just do not reach, even if I could reach, then where am I to put the mirror so that I can see where I woild like to go.

Sure I could ride with my hands on the brop bars as long as the drop bars are not fixed to the bike; else inverted.

I'll be honest and say when on a ride I probably have my hands on the hoods or on top of the bars 70% of the time, but would I cut off my drops?  Absolutely not. I use them while descending, I use them to stretch out my back to help stand on the pedals and give my butt a break, and I use them to get out of the wind and also again to gently lift my butt off the saddle.  To me, though, the drops are important, especially on a steep descent for better bike control, I don't feel comfortable (or as safe) doing that on the hoods or top of the bar.  So, if you use your drops once or twice during a ride, then I think removing them is a mistake because they are providing a purpose.  And removing them, in my opinion, is a marginal gain.  I'd rather have them than not have them.

I have only used straight bars on my bikes since 2007. I was getting mild back problems leaning forward on drops. I am just getting over following epidural injections, a very bad case of sciatica since mid March, became horrendous early May. It made walking almost impossible but thankfully and weirdly, cycling was/is totally unaffected!

I'm 73 and I occasionally still use the drops, it's a lot about being able to change hand positions enough to elevate hand problems from arthritis if left to long in one spot; and if going down a long hill, hitting the drops means I can pick up more speed.

I seldom use the drops. I feel like I lose power there compared to the hoods, and what with middle aged spread, there's too much belly getting squeezed in the middle. I have used them more on my more upright Faran with flared bars, but it's still not somewhere I spend a lot of time. Should probably try a bike fit to access a wider range of positions, but it's not really bothered me.

I rarely use drops as I haven't found a bike short reach and high stack enough for my long leg short torso proportions which means drops always feel too stretched. Nice to tuck down out the wind but not comfortable. I hear people say drops are better for hard braking but for me it's total opposite. Hit a bump in the drops and my hand moves backwards towards the end of the bar. Always have loads of control braking on hoods.

All my bike's have dropped bars but the only time I'll go into the drops is when I want to hunker down out of the wind whilst changing my hand/ back position.  The vast majority of the time I'll be on the hoods and my elbow will change my position.

I would say the vast majority of riders seldom use the drops and when they do it's in certain circumstances ie sprinting or if they are going fast downhill. Even pro riders very rarely use them except for the sprinters in which case they are doing so for maximum control while they do. If a rider is riding high tempo in a breakaway for example they generally try to get as aero on tbe hoods as possible - hence why there has been so much made of arm position , resting them on the bars being prohibited and now the sudden fashion of inward pointed hoods to the extreme.

I can't say I ride on the drops very often but that's usually cos my front wheel is pointing uphill on most of my rides. The occasional fast decent with chin on the stem and arse in the air may be the only time I do. I may occasionally if I'm into a strong headwind and I'm trying to get as low as possible but again it's rare and I may do whole rides where I barely change my hand position at all. 

I previously setup one of my bike with bull-horn bars and drop-bar levers like shown in the final photo of the article. One issue is that the levers are closer to the bars than on drop bars, so you have to keep your brakes well-adjusted to make sure the levers can't touch the bar under full braking. I also tried to route the cables more discreetly with some segmented / flexible cable housing, but that was never ideal. I haven't done that setup for a long time, because I like having the drops position for battling headwinds and control in descents. Plus, bike weight isn't as important as people believe.

The answer to the original question is obviously "of course it is" - ride whichever way you are happy to.

I do find when I use the drops that I very often end up going up one or sometimes two gears. Whether that says that using the drops is more efficient for me or my setup is 'wrong', I don't know! 😁

I'm 72. I only started cycling for sport about 4 years ago when I had to give up running. I've had professional bike fits but also have a prostate problem which becomes aggravated if I ride on the drops. It took me a while to work out that riding on the drops was the problem. I've also discovered ISM saddles which have been a game changer for me in the comfort stakes. I'm only riding for the exercise and not competing with anyone but myself so I guess I could saw off the drops but for me there's no point really.

If you aren't using the drops then you might as well use a flat bar (brakes and shifters are probably cheaper) but there are lots of shallow drop bars you can get to make going from hoods to drop easier.
As for the hoods being just as aero, that is true but usually requires a greater degree of bend at the elbow so you can't, generally, hold it for as long as you can in the drops.
I would say that if you aren't using the drops you aren't using all the options available to you and perhaps you should look into why. Flexibility, set up etc. it's a bit like not using your front mech because you haven't trained your fingers to push the buttons/levers.

Look at photos of old races. Stem and bar tops just a fist and a half lower than saddle. Cinelli 1A stem with deep drop bars, brakes at about 2 o'clock round the bend and bottom of drops at 5⁰ from horizontal. You could ride for hours holding the drops below the brakes, sprint on the flats at bottom of bars, relieve back with the tops, otherwise hands on hoods. 4 positions.
Today, saddle to stem and bar top is far greater drop, more like riding on hoods or drops in old days. It does seem to make drops redundant but also reduces positions to 2 or 3 so you can't get as upright as old days nor can you get at drops which are not that much lower than hoods

I don't know why more people do not use the drops but then again you very rarely see pros either apart from decents most use the aero hoods.
I like using the drops I proberbly spend 30-40% of my time in them, I find it very comfortable

When I bought a speedometer for my bike I found that switching to the drops meant I went 1-2 mph faster on the flat for no additional effort.

On a long ride, being able to switch position from time to time also helps avoid pain in the wrists and hands.

For commuting in town I never used the drops though. 30 minute rides with comfort and control the priorities. It all depends on what you want to do on the bike, I guess.

My initial response to the title was that not having drops would significantly reduce braking force on long high speed descents but Kevin's solution makes that thought moot.

As for the looks, what's important is not how a bike looks but where it takes you. If Kevin is able to enjoy his cycling that's all that matters.