or is it all preference? 

I dont really care about distance in casting, so was going to go with the 6'8...  also the 6'8 would fit in my car easier..

so is there any difference?

I have never done drop shot with a long rod.  I use rods no longer than 5'9" because I fish vertically and want to sit or stand comfortably and keep my bait in the cone.

7-2 may not fit into your rod locker...just sayin'

TJ

I use a 6'9", and I've never felt like I needed anything longer for drop shotting.

If you are drop shotting in deep water (>25'), then you may find an advantage to going with the longer rod. Only because, when a smallie takes, it tends to skyrocket straight up! And you have to raise your rod and reel as fast as possible to keep slack out of the distance between you. If it wasn't for this propensity to skyrocket, you could get by with a shorter rod with no problem. I find the longer the rod, the more control you have is all. Just a matter of preference.

[movedhere] Fishing Tackle [move by] five.bass.limit.

thanks guys, I really prefer the 6'8 for comfort and the lakes i fish at aren't very deep, mostly city park lakes..