Drops vs Hoods

yes.

Yes, you should give some serious thought to adding aerobars.  They give the most aerodynamic advantage per dollar spent of all upgrades, I understand.  There are basic ones out there for about $50, and I picked up a used pair for about $40 that suit me just fine.

When I'm out on road rides, I generally ride on the hoods.  I go down into the drops if I am pushing hard or if I am going into a head wind.  Generally, though, I am probably on the hoods 80% of the time.

It's mainly about comfort.  I like the drops better and probably spend most of my time there, but if my back needs a break I'll come up to the hoods.

Clip on aeros are a pretty cheap way to get into a position that will create a lot less drag.  I did that for a long time before I built a tri bike.  Found it pretty comfortable and definitely got a speed gain.

You should really go get a good fit with them. there is this strange myth that riding Aero should be hard on your body and "something" you get used to or just gut out. Pros do 6-7 hr rides in aero and you can better belive if it was not comfortable they would not do it... it is not something they worked up to.
If you cannot spend more than 4 miles in aero at a time, you need to have your fit looked at. DO NOT accept the fact that they are uncomfortable and you have to get used to being that way.

I can ride all day in the aero position and not get tired. It is very comfortable and is like laying down... I actually prefer aero to sitting up with my hands on the hoods, bars whatever you call them. I have to remind myself every hour to sit up and stretch the legs for a few seconds and then get back in to position.

I have had several FITS to dial in the position and I always have a yearly check up as my flexibility or fitness improves or get worse... one FIT will sometimes not last you for years and years.

Get a good fit, something you are comfortable with even if you are more upright than some of your buddies. Start there and as you get more flexible and fit, get re-fit and get lower... You do not have to start on the bottom ring...

But riding aero should not be something you work into...

For the drops vs. hoods question, on my road bike, I am in the drops almost 100% of the time if I am racing a criterium, maybe 60-75% of the time when I am doing a road race and 50% of the time or less in training. I go in the drops when I want to be more aerodynamic and I also find the braking a little easier from the drops. I am in the drops on long downhills and when I am taking a pull or riding in a fast paceline. My training rides are usually at least 2 hours each, and on the weekends, usually 4 hours, so staying in the drops the whole time would not be comfortable.

If I am racing a Timetrial, I am in the aerobars, 99% of the time.

See that is the myth...

depends on the race that the pro is doing...

Actually I would say all of or 99% of pros have two bikes set up. One for tri geometry with bar end shifters and when they  do races like escape to alcatraz or IM switzerland, Lazorate etc they have a road or tri bike set up with STI shifters and a little more road geometry; especially if it is a technical course. Check out pics of C wellinton in some European races and she rides with STI shifter and bull horns or whatever you call them... and they do have shorty clips ons.
same for ITU pros, they basically ride road bikes with shorty clip ons and while the races are short for them I can tell you (a good friend is a ITU pro) they have long training rides just like the rest of us and they do them on road bikes set up for that style of racing.

And putting clip on bars does not have to stretch you out.. that is what reverse seat angles and shorter stems are for...

again it is all about the fit... a good fit will take you from being stretched out to being more comfortable on the bike by just changing to a shorter stem, maybe raing the bars and a little more forward seat angle...

FIT FIT FIT people... do not believe the myth that it has to be uncomfortable and you have to suffer and get used to it...

Also I would tell you to look at the avatar of Breckview, he does not look stretchout on his bike at all. It is a road bike with clip ons.. his fit on the bike looks very comfortable and compact. Not stretch out at all...

Breckview, how comfortable are you on your bike? what are some of your longer rides like?