Don’t you ride two abreast on the group rides?
But I kind of agree with you, on the group rides I’ve been on (admittedly not that many, and not for a long time), you’d do about a minute on the front (next to someone else) before peeling off. Hence you’d have to put in more effort while on the front compared to when you were in the draft, often free wheeling.
It was usually noticeable when you were cycling with triathletes versus cyclists for both handling and effort. Although there always used to be a few on the tri club Sunday morning rides that couldn’t pace it, so the slower riders lost interest in doing 30-50 miles hard.
Other than an odd ride with a friend I can’t really remember the last time I did any kind of group session.
I seemed to be somewhere in the middle of the two 
The more I’ve thought about this discussion the more I’m thinking group rides aren’t a great idea. For performance. Very similar to the challenge of my weekly club runs.
With running I either accept the club run as a hard day, Garmin usually calls it threshold but it’s poor quality, or I drop back to lower groups who all think I shouldn’t be there. Those are all a bit stop start, and with the hills it’s never all zone 2.
Maybe I could lead easier group three weeks out of four then hit a hard run out of the park once a month.
And do the same with weekend rides, easy group or solo structured ride 3 weeks then blow the doors off with a 4-5hr, ~300TSS group ride.
Then recovery week.
One way or another I should be sinking these rides if I think I’m going to run a good half marathon or full marathon afterwards on race day.
@BadAsh
Two abreast seems rare so far, majority of a ride will be single file.
@jeffb
Happy to say handling has been pretty good to my eye so far, only pack coherence lacking.
@FatPom
I’m trying to pull well, but a lack of communication (and experience on my part) shows.
Luckily the frost cancelled all the group rides today so I got in 90 minutes of structure indoors.
I think the ones I rode with had often had a bit of background cycling so have some experience, unlike some of the people I see at races!
Yeah, D Grade at the start of a season is like an army of undisciplined, psychotic windmills. 
The ideal imo is a two or three up rides.
Perfect situation is someone slightly stronger and one a bit weaker or the same.
It keeps you honest and if you need to take it a bit easier the stronger person normally doesnt mind taking slightly longer pulls.
It you are similar theres always days when someones a bit off so you get a slightly harder or eaiser ride. Plus with one or two others you can all chat or work as agreed.
I’d agree with that, up to 6 max I’d say - anymore than that and people get silly and you piss motorists off more than usual.
With three or so wheels to hide in you get some decent respite if the going is tough.