You had asked about drops. I run a small 3/16 operation for the last four years. I started with 3/16 drops but have since gone to 5/16. Somewhere on the trader, someone mentioned that with a larger diameter drop, there should be less back flow of sap into the tap hole at the end of the day. I'm not sure if that is true or not, but that was my reasoning after reading the trader.
Chad
2014: 12 taps, 5 gal buckets
2015: 15 taps on bags
2016: 150 taps: 100 on bags, 50 on 3/16" natural vac, 2x8 AUF/AOF Homebuilt Arch, 2x8 SL Drop Flu & Auto Draw, SL Propane Canner/Bottler
2017: 225 taps: Built Lean to, Added SL hood, preheater, concentric exhaust, SL SS 7" SB Filter Press
2018: 180 taps: Added Shurflo to 50 - 3/16", Auto fill sensor to head tank
2019: No tapping
2020: 175 taps
2021: 300 taps, homemade RO and releaser
2022: 600+ taps