[BatFastard]

Don't most droud users indeed kill themselves through neglect in that story? Louis Wu the protagonist is extraordinary in that he gave up the droud.

[boobsbr]

I don't know about other users wasting away, but I remember Chmeee (of the tiger-like species) destroying the droud when they were travelling to the Ringworld, so Louis Wu was without an option on quitting it.