Navbar Links as Plugins

[Dax IX]

I have a question about Navbar links. I keep seeing articles and posts about how to add links to your Navbar, and I remembered that there was a way to add links through the plugin system. After searching today, I found the info that I was looking for.

My question is this: Is there a reason that people prefer to add links through editing their Navbar template over adding links as plugins?

It seems to me that a forum admin would rather have their links be added with the template hook system instead of editing their Navbar template directly.

I've had it happen in the past when upgrading vBulletin that the template for the Navbar needs to be updated, and in doind so, you lose all of your template edits, and therefore your added links.

I'd think that being able to update your Navbar template without losing your links would be a good thing.

This isn't a rant...I'm just wondering why the preferred method is template edits.

Thanks!