When all said and done, there are many roads to Rome. So many variables. There are riders who can be sensitive and careful enough.
Or those in a hurry, or whose horse needs a bit of help, or, or, or… Too often, though, they can be a cover up for a rider’s inability to ride and put a horse together properly. Overall, I will defend their judicious use at certain times, but not used as a crutch. Education. A Market Harborough (German Martingale) can fit into this discussion, too. I have one I have used as a safety tool when on the trails with a young or reactive horse. Not even attempting to say I am the oracle, just an opinion.
I had a trainer put me in draw reins before I had good legs or steady hands. Very cruel instrument in the wrong hands like mine. I have since known trainer who use them for very specific things with good results.
Another example. I flat my jumper quite often in draw reins. He is a large horse who came to us grossly out of shape and with a nasty habit of tossing his head very violently when asked to work front to back - coupled with teeth that looked as if they hadn’t been touched in years. His head tossing is much better after getting in shape and having his teeth fixed, but it inevitably comes when you close your leg and ask him to push through his hind end more (i.e., working in a smaller circle, lateral work, etc.). It is a very odd and specific reaction - you can actually be barely touching his mouth and close your leg and he’ll toss his head.
A martingale would not enforce the lesson - a smack on the noseband via a tight martingale would mean nothing to this horse. We show in a running, which helps, but at home the draw reins help reinforce the shape of a connected horse, which is what he is trying to avoid (because he’s got zero work ethic). I ride with them loose, so that he has no repercussions of working correctly, but he hits them as soon as he gets pissy.
As others have said, a valuable tool to have in the box.
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