Even flares and especially drones should at least slowly regenerate their stock over time, back to the initial amount.
Ship systems are now integral to gameplay, and really should have a constant presence in combat. This seems no more poignant than in the case of the ships with drones, where the supply often runs dry fairly quickly even in light combat, and then the ship is crippled with minimal effort for however much longer the battle goes on.
I love the concept of drones, but I can't justify using the ships that get them when other ships have the overwhelming, infinite tactical superiority of reusable systems.
I'd rather this weren't the case.