Can the drawers be left open?

Absolutely. The drawer can be extended open within 4" of the end of the drawer and they will stay in place in the shell, even if you walk away. We have designed the height of the drawer to match the inside dimension of the shell to maximize the support it receives when open. The front of the drawer will hang downward approximately 10 degrees. This will enable you to remove comics from the back of the drawer more easily.