A buff, by itself, is pretty much dead meat against most single fighters.
The formation improves the chances that at least one of the planes surviving. Even then, the PATIENT pursuer will dispose of a formation of buffs.
Even as a single plane, a dive-bombing Lanc is still capable of destroying any single target in the game sans HQ. So doing away with drones won't stop that anyway.
And there is a lot to be said for the nice massive formations the drones provide when you get 7 or 8 buff drivers together. Add in a few escorts and go trapsing across the landscape. It's an ambiance kinda thing.