Drop tanking

Are drop tanks really the best means of extending an aircraft’s range? Drop tanks are costly {often $100,000 USD each} and inefficent, typically half of a drop tank’s fuel load is spent getting the other half there because of induced drag. They also “eat” a pylon better spent on weapons and equipment. Also I think they encourage fighter aircraft designers to skimp on fuel fraction since they know that the end user will just hang as many or as large of a fuel tank as it takes to make up for any range shortfall.

On the plus sides you have the fact that once a tank is dropped you end up with an aircraft that is cleaner and lighter than it would have otherwise been had it CFTs or an outsized internal fuel load. Drop tanks are the most straightforward method of range extension and they permit a good measure of flexibility. What says the forum?