Dropships are far from underpowered. They literally 2 shot almost everything and can threaten tanks easily with proto missiles (outside the redline that is).

The STD DS is a troop transport, not everything in the game has to be about killing people. Try using missile turrets, they're much easier to aim than rails and have a safer range than blasters. Idk about bugs because I don't use gunners.

Rails are a problem, but only because they shoot from security in the redline. I'm fine with them being able to do a lot of damage, just not with impunity. Fits are very important here, though you need to remember that no matter your fit, not even tanks can withstand rails for long. The best option, imo, it to fit an afterburner with as much buffer tank as you can (for Python, don't ask me about an Incubus).

ADSs are Tech 2 hulls, so you're comparing apples to oranges when you're comparing ADSs to tanks (compare STD dropships to STD tanks). I imagine Tech 2 tanks are going to be much more expensive. Besides, the cost isn't too bad. ADV ADSs are about 400k, proto at 500k, that's a bout 2-3 good games, and you shouldn't be losing a dropship that often and expect to turn a profit. And if they weren't expensive, they'd be spammed as bad as tanks are currently.

I don't know why you're bringing up the swarm bug, if it is a bug at all. I take shield damage w/o regaining shields unless I have a hardener on.

Learn to fly in 1st person, it's not that hard. I don't do it all the time, but its great for dogfights and scenic flying. I don't know why people want to be able to pitch down in 1st person. It's hard to see obstacles and you have to keep almost perfectly still, very bad for dropship survivability. The 3rd person camera is fine.

As mentioned above, Dropships are troop transport vehicles they are not supposed to be death machines. Use a dropship for what is designed to be used for and all will be good.

Vulpes said in certain circumstances: in other words, use it when it is more useful than third-person view, which is primarily restricted to dogfighting other Dropships where you are often aiming directly in front rather than slightly below.

Vulpes is, I believe, not referring to the meta level (ie, Standard/Advanced/Prototype) of your modules, but to what you're equipping: putting a Scanner and two Shield Extenders on your Python will probably serve you poorly, but an Afterburner and two Shield Hardeners on the other hand will serve you very well.