Biden is a pretty intelligent guy, I take his advice seriously (when he's not busy sticking his foot in his mouth).
I think the more drones less troops idea is short sided. That MIGHT maintain a status quo, but it would never end the conflict. It is also comes with inevitable civilian deaths. THAT is a huge problem. Even if it risks troops lives or there is a cost in troop lives because of a policy to limit civilian deaths, so be it. While that obviously sounds harsh in THIS conflict it is imperative. It's simple really, keep pissing of the locals and we will have NO chance of achieving our goals (what ever they are). The ONLY hope for a long term solution lays with the Afghans themselves. In the end it will cost MORE American lives if we deny our responsibilities to the locals.
Options in life are rarely a one or a zero, get in or get out.