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Simple question, is there value in using drop pods to deliver close combat units for a turn two charge?
Yes you'll take a round of shooting, but every assault unit faces that challenge.

I've thought about dropping in 9 Tyranid Warriors in a spore pod, running them with rending claws and scything talons. Would lose a few right away, but... might be worth a shot.

Something with a better armour save? I think it could work.

I would give guns to whatever you drop. You're losing turns to kill enemy units by waiting in reserve and, unless your a drop pod coming in turn 1, you really need to do something the turn you come in.

I ran a 2x Flyrant, 3x Trygon prime list that won a local tournament which relied on all coming in turn 2 and each MC killing a unit the turn it came in.

I was thinking primarily of units that would be coming in turn one.

Things like Honor Guard.

I like to have 4 drop pod. Ether, 2 at start really close to enemy to waste thier time killing in those cheap marine who risk thier life. Use other rest of drop pod to hunt down heavy weapon.

Or keep all in..
Then once enemy move forward to allow more room from rear, drop all of pod there to trap them. Attack from both side.

It depends

Especially if playing against Tau.

for the most part honor guards dropping in turn 1 should be fine as they will most likely survive a round of "regular" shooting. but if against a EWO Riptide you probably want to drop em in second and bait out the intercept turn 1 so you can come in unharmed after. Dreads work great for that i think. then you can just charge the dread turn two so your honor guard can waltz around and pick a target.

Death co with bolters for 20 bolter shots on the drop followed up by insane close combat abilities isnt to shabby for 235pts inc pod. Plus they are relentless so the bolters aren't wasted after turn 1.

As mentioned, Honour Guard could be good, specially with a CM to tank wounds. Calgar in TDA + HG + Chapter banner, turn 1 use tactical doctrine with the bolters, turn 2 use assault doctrine. Boom.

One thing I heard that was an interesting idea was save your assault units for later turns, so have them show up turn two/three.

Here is the basis for the idea. Your opponents ability to remove them is going to be at its maximum in turns one and two. In addition by having assault dedicated units being the main thing on the table you are not limiting that ability at all. So basically your assault units are showing up when they are easiest to deal with.

With that in mind I would save them arriving for turn two/three. At this point you have wittled down some of their shooting with your shooting and now your assault units are more likely to make it into combat.

Interesting Idea, have not had a chance to try it yet but would be interesting in seeing how it does.

I love Drop Pods, they offer so much tactical flexibility.

Drop em full if there are targets of opportunity, or start your units on the board and drop em empty for great LOS breaking tactics, let alone dropping 2-3 in a line in front of a tank and the rest of your opponents lines can force an assault army to either divert or waste a turn to smash them before they can go about their merry plans of tearing you apart.

You can hide behind the drop pod. If you built the harnesses you can block a lot of LoS.