Are Drone strikes cowardly?

No different than launching a missile from a ship or plane. They're a good way to reach out and touch someone.

Over the last several years there has been an attempt to change the use of the word Coward (et al) into something it isn't.

1) a person who lacks the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things.
2) excessively afraid of danger or pain.
3) (of an animal) depicted with the tail between the hind legs.

We do not use drones because we are afraid of danger or unpleasant things. We use them because they are pragmatically better, and they are more risk adverse than doing it in the traditional way. Just like we use oven mitts when reaching into a stove. We would not call someone cowardly for when using the best available tool reduces risk.

We are not afraid of pain. The usage does reduce risk, as above, but again that is not the primary reason we do it.

Finally, we do not do it to retreat, the classic depiction of a tail covering ones nethers. We do it to advance.

So no, drones are not "cowardly" in and of themselves. They are a tool. Our use of the tool is generally not cowardly either, but pragmatic and risk adverse. Even our philosophy around drones tends to be neutral in this regards. We fly in the open. We have public policies. We advertise. It's hard to call it "cowardly."

I think there is a comparison here. During the Revolutionary War the US had begun using Kentucky Long Rifle compared to the Brown Bess the British were using.

Up till this time, men lined up across from one another at short distances and shot volleys at one another. The officers hung out in the back, out of range, for command and control. Then comes the Kentucky Long Rifle. Somebody figures out we can shoot the officers in the back of the formations and the troops don't know what to do. Then we figured out if we just hang out in cover we can shoot the guys in the front line before their Brown Bess is even in range. We were called cowards by the British. We did not stand and fight in the traditional method.

Because of technology (The rifled barrels of the Kentucky Long Rifle as opposed to the smooth bore Brown Bess) we were able to deploy a much more lethal force without the losses that the enemy was experiencing.

Patton said it best, "The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his."