Work load on the host PC is significantly reduced, because it only needs to communicate with a few main controllers.

In case of an alarm controllers may initiate connection to the host PC.

Operation of the system is dependent on the host PC.

Requiring a host PC is merely a convenience and not a necessity.

Some readers, however, have peer-to-peer communication option in order to reduce dependency on the host PC.

The host PC doesn't have to do any of the complicated stuff.

These special applications must be installed normally on the host PC in order to function.

It can display photos stored on the host PC.

It can stream Internet radio via the host PC as well.

The only difference in the transaction was that the sensitive data was never present on the host PC.