In the graphic design industry a low level designer can get up to 150+ photos that must be cropped before lunch. That is why we were taught that, it is more precise than any other tool (really once you get the hang of the pen tool it is) the only way to finish that kind of work in the time frame (My record is 40 in 2 hours, man did I get carpal tunnel). And if another designer needs to work on that file at a later date but needs to change the feathering or something, the image is already outlined, all he has to do is click to make the selection. This method is designed to be long term easier, not short term.
