I am a firm believer that RPAS operators do deserve gongs - its an emotionally and mentally stressful job, far more so in many ways than being in a rear echelon camp in country, because you have the daily head screw of taking kids to school, going to work, either observing someone or then dropping a bomb and killing that person, and then going home to tea with the kids.
Its hard work, there is no 'operational space' to get your head in the game and instead you have to constantly jump between two very different worlds. I wonder if a case could be made to put RPAS operators on regular short (e.g. 1-2 month) tours in a third location like Akrotiri to allow them the space to deliver the operation?
Perhaps two levels - the 'in theatre' and the 'out of theatre' to reflect same outcomes, different means of delivery?