XL,
the FAA has some issues with UAVs period, doesn't really matter who is at the controls. All flight is predicated upon see and avoid and the big question is how does the UAV see and avoid anything.
The big concern for some of us unfortunate enough to live through the McPeak era of "banking" pilots is taking 3 yrs off does have an impact on your skills and your standings vs your peers.
At the end of 3 yrs (assuming there is no "ace" program for UAVs), you are coming back to a MWS behind the power curve.
1. The AF is going to give you as little recurrent training as they can get away with so at least a small percentage of the UAV guys coming back aren't going to make it through training (not every banked fighter guy made it through, and, it wasn't a fun group to train)
2. Compared to the guys who got FAIP'd, you are still screwed. Pretty much every plane out there has faster upgrades for people who have experience flying other planes vs the guy coming into the jet w/ only student time. Will a guy upgrade to FL/AC a couple of months after reaching his first "real" assigment after UAVs? God knows, I sure as hell hope not.
3. SO, now you are up for your Major's board and the rest of your peers are AC/FLs/IPs. During the minimal time the board has to review all the records, how do they take into account the fact that you are doing 1st LT work while the rest of your peers have been doing Capt work because your first tour was in UAVs?
Even worse for the LTC board.
4. You need X number of your years in a MWS to keep getting flight pay. You are behind the power curve. You have 1 yr of pilot training, has to be a month or two training on UAVs, followed by a 3yr tour. Puts you 4 in change heading back for some more UPT training, followed by6-10 months of training before you show up for your first MWS.....so, you are at the 5-6 yr point in your AF career with only very specialize training and minimal exposure to the enlisted guys who are the backbone (and majority) of the AF. How do you learn to lead when you have literally been flying a desk?
5. You are now up for your 3rd assigment. Until the AF changes the rules, have to keep you flying in a MWS. Or, will it be better for the AF to get an "experienced" guy back into the ever expanding UAV field.
6. Barring some dramatic shift in the hiring demographics, you are essentially locked in for 20. When your pilot training commitment ends you will have dramatically less PIC time than your peers.