A lot of runners are introverted, quirky, socially awkward people. They probably weren't expecting someone to talk to them mid-race.
I'm a big talker during long races. I love talking during the first half to help stay loose and avoid going too hard too early. It's rare that I get people to really talk back. A lot of people take themselves and their races too seriously and choose to avoid all contact with their fellow competitors. Occasionally though, I'll get someone to bite. We strike up a conversation, agree to work together, and we end up beating everyone else around us who didn't want to have any part in the conversation.
I find the benefits of drafting to be more psychological than actually physical. I've been in really windy races before, and I'll move up behind a guy and expect to feel the wind come to a halt like I just closed the window on a windy day, but it doesn't. I still feel like the wind is hitting me the same as it was when no one was there.
When you're in a pack, however, it's easier to keep cadence and avoid letting the wind beat you. When I'm out running solo and the wind is just hammering down on me, it feels like I'm the only one in the storm, and I spend the whole time worrying that people are going to catch me, because I can feel myself running slower than I should be. When I'm in a big pack, however, everyone is in it together, and as soon as one person starts to give in and fall back a bit, I can just cling to the pack and keep cadence. If I'm solo, as soon as I start to give in to the wind a bit, it's over. I'm only going to get slower. But with a pack, it's unlikely that the entire pack will give in to the wind at the same time. You're also not worried about someone catching you, because everyone is right with you.
Also, letsrun posting tip:
I get why you mentioned the times you guys were on pace for. It made sense in the context of the point you were trying to make. But try to avoid mentioning times when posting here. Idiots and trolls will cling to those numbers and use them as ammo for their low-effort troll responses. It will incite jealousy in slower runners who can't run that fast, and they'll chime in just to call you a loser, and it will insult insecure faster runners who feel offended that you are pleased with your own race times...