To clarify, look at this pic. This is a training ride, and not a race, but it doesn't matter if it's a double paceline or 3 wide or 4 wide or whatever. (We had a tighter, rotating line on another road, but I guess everyone was working too hard then to take pics). Even if we got as close together as possible, we would hit elbows, shoulders, hips, etc. before we could easily lock bars together. There are many good times to be in the drops, and I think crit racing should largely be done in the drops, but many people prefer to be on the hoods for a variety of reasons, and that's ok, if they can handle their bike well.