Why send the starship when a probe can go first?

Why risk a starship or landing party when long-range probes and drones are available?

There is little operational reason to do so; uncrewed systems should investigate uncertain conditions before the main ship is exposed.

Star Trek equips ships with long-range probes, yet its crews repeatedly enter uncertain situations without using them first. Sending a probe could gather information while keeping the command ship farther from danger. The same criticism applies to landing parties when a drone could go ahead. The preference is to risk an expendable craft before exposing the ship or its crew.