CAVEAT: Haven't seen the rulebook yet, so please correct any incorrect statements.
Pros vs cons of ACTA drones, vs. generic SFB ones.
PROS
1. Can only defend your own ship in ACTA with defensive fire
2. Drones cannot run out of fuel in ACTA
3. Drones take effect immediately in ACTA
4. No Transporter bombs (mini-mines) to help reduce drones in ACTA
5. No Wild Weasels (decoys) in ACTA
CONS
1. Cannot combine launches from multiple turns in a single combined strike in ACTA
2. No scatterpacks (shuttles with emergency launch racks) to increase drone launch rate in a turn in ACTA
3. More terrain used in ACTA, impacted launch rate due to LOS considerations
4. Drones have less impact on maneuvering in ACTA, giving less tactical benefit
5. Drones gain no benefit in Sequence of Play in ACTA (i.e., in SFB you launch drones before direct fire weapons are fired, allowing you to empty racks before they get blown off)
Overall, looking at this anecdotally, and of course, without having played the game, it seems a good balance. i.e., I'm not saying the sky is falling yet and I have a known penchant for breaking games/rules.