The one explanation I read on a Star Trek site once (Can't remember excactly where), was that the PADDs basically were a sign of capitulation from information o

The one explanation I read on a Star Trek site once (Can't remember excactly where), was that the PADDs basically were a sign of capitulation from information overload: Instead of trying to store relevant information in huge central databases and sending around links, you would store it on a PADD and physically give it to the recipient. Therefore giving the information some... well, weight.