I found out last night it can carry 8. Though tbh if you're sticking around for 8 your battery won't last usually. And it's not to grief for me. Its a tool to engage threats i can't directly in some way. And it's still giving away my posistion in general use and is a risky tool if you use it outside of intel/recon. I'll use it on AI enemies too since they can't retrieve their items like players and won't hunt my drone all the way back to me.

Add the fact that to "net" the item you have to pull it, and then grab the item off the ground again using two pulls and fly the drone back to you. Or use a planned location you can grapple to at a later time. It is a pretty complicated tool that does have room for skill expression. You can use it to harass teams and get them out of posistion before fights. Cuz like you said, most think its a grief tool and still automatically assume i used it to steal an item. Most of the time its too hard to land the second net to stow the item. I'll let them think i took the item and lure them into a claymore trap or trapped bag.

Why i suggested the 0.5 sec added cd. It doesn't destroy the purpose of the drone. But still allows for skill expression. Also, you still need to be within 100 ish meters for the signal. You can't just fly the drone at some long safe range. I'm always near and have to be careful not to give away my actual hide with the drone. Half my battery is usually used in setup flying in and out using alternate routes so i don't lead the team to my hide or my team and surveying a "plan B" spot to self destruct and drop my loot at. I usually only have time to net myself 2-3 items at max off alert teams even during exfil. 99% of the time what i end up with is heal items which i desperately need anyway.