It seems to me that it's possible to get perfect arrow flight on a target bow without a drop away. I have an MZE, and what it does for braodheads, broadheads on carbons. Also what it does for general ease, and not having to worry about the arrow coming off the rest at the moment of truth, is all pretty unique.

But you can go through an analysis: If you shoot fat shafts, or if you shoot vanes mounted without a lot of helical, then it's totaly a,b,c, to get good fletch clearnace and arrow flight without going to a drop away.

If you were shooting say 4" fletches, and tiny carbons in the HC class, you might have a problem getting any clearance. If you are allowed to use a drop away in that class, it might be a very big advantage.

The acid test is to look at the arrow from behind, and see if there is enough space between the vanes for a prong rest. If you have the clearance, then I don't see the point to a drop away. The MZE in particular is quite heavy, and doesn't do positive things for the ballance of my bow.