If I had to place my bets, I think that drone-operated aviation, delivery, etc. will become a trillion dollar market.
If that's the case, then obviously it takes precedence.
For remote areas, military resupply and such, sure, drone will works just fine. But that is hardly a trillion dollar market, regardless how hard all those pitch decks try to make it one.
It's been years since fedex/ups/usps has done anything but quickly drop packages at my front door and get back in their truck asap
Hot air balloons or even small personal aircraft are a niche that serve a mostly wealthy subset of the population. Drone delivery and transportation will likely grow to serve all of us and kick off a multitude of further technological and business innovations. Because of this, drones should get regulatory approval and preference due to the huge potential benefits for society.
Not sure I met many “wealthy” balloon pilots, but glad you make “the trillion dollar industry of drones” a “fight for the common man”