This video answers your exact question: https://youtu.be/RkTaMyatsTo?si=1JaqDosk-5Xuu1y1 It just seems to be a very flexible option where you can record stuff that is very close or very far away.

I do feel like this is smart. The first two points are whatever but the third one "typically you must go through union instead of your supervisor or manager" makes it sound like there is a lot of bureaucratic overhead to it. People who are undecided could feel that it's too much effort.