Yes: they allow "inversed locks". The locking device is placed on the chassis and not in the moveable part(the rear hatch, doors). By doing so the lock is less subject to vibrations and it's more reliable. It has far less moving mechanical parts too.
The doorhandle becomes in fact nothing more than a switch (that's where the soft touch plastic come in). They are nothing else than microswithes, reed relays etc incapsuled in plastic: you touch the plastic and electroncis see a contact closing. Inside the cockpit then will also replace rapidly all "mechnical" switch and in theory increase reliability, decrease cost etc. Down side is that -in the vent that they don't work- you won't be able to work on them.
It is a multiple-win-case: more comfy, less cost, higher reliability, less weight and far easier to install. The step further, which we allready use in doors which need to open and close a lot- is a lock without any mechanical or moving part, the electro-magnet.
Surveys indicated however that the general public is not yet ready for a complete fixed handle, containing only the contact but I guess the next generation of cars will only have completely fixed handles, no moving parts and that even the mechanical lock and keys will make way to electronics (remotes etc)
Tom De Moor