Dave, thanks for that insight. I suspect you have nailed it. The F-16 Falcon, official name, is called the Viper by the pilots. (I think that goes back to a pop culture reference from the 1970's, a TV show called Battlestar Galactica with Lorne Green. Memory may not serve me there).
When Reaper arrived operationally, one of its advantages over Predator was the ability to carry/deploy significantly more robust munitions: going from a Hellfire missile to a GBU-12 (500 lb LGB) offers the ground commander calling for aerial attack more options/more firepower from on high.
I feel like we are in a play "What's in a name?"
An armed RPV by any other name can still deliver firepower.