Lots of great reasons: 1. The user can manage all their stuff in one place with consistent functionality across all apps. 2. The OS can implement generic file

Lots of great reasons: 1. The user can manage all their stuff in one place with consistent functionality across all apps. 2. The OS can implement generic file handling features like search, share, backup, sync, etc. 3. It paves the way for standard file types that can be handled by multiple apps, or apps that can work with any type of file, like Dropbox. The power of filesystems is well understood and I'm sure Apple could create one instilled with their magical UX and just-worksiness. But they won't do it because I think they are afraid of 3rd party apps becoming too useful. They don't want anyone else creating an ecosystem that they don't control. But Google and RIM are happy to do that and I hope they establish a higher standard of utility that Apple is forced to live up to.