hmmm is the modding community dead now? Not seeing much action on any posts for many days.

I don't observe the behaviour you describe. When I'm out for station demolition and collect loot thereafter I take command of an L trader nearby which is then using all it's drones. However, it is usually faster to use the container magnet and therefore pay little attention to what the drones are doing. When NPC managed the combined skill of the crew likely controls the number of active cargo drones.

Note that the pick-up sequence is calculated when the order becomes active. AFAICT in order of geometric distance to the map marker. Any loot that spawned afterwards will be ignored. Unless you move the order marker on the map.

Its pretty easy to test.
I set a fleet defending a gate that xenon frequently attack through. Lots of derelicts and loot/missiles laying around. So i task something to run around and collect it.... OR set a carrier or something with drones, and tell them to collect.

Watch them be barely functional and lots of loot go poof. Instead of drones taking the closest item first, they travel 40k away, to get the OLDEST item. OLDEST vs CLOSEST.
Even with the mods to make drones travel fast, its still very ineffective.