I think it is very clever, and if the freewheel/cassette had never been invented this might well have been the way things ended up. However, it really is no different, other than slightly less greasy to remove the wheel, then the current way of doing things
What is the point of this post?
"If freewheel / cassette had never been invented then......" well if you noticed this approach does indeed use a cassette.
" it really is no different, other than slightly less greasy to remove the wheel, then the current way of doing things"
It's different and does have advantages. Like many things in cycling..... there's always something a little different that makes things a little better. Maybe it's difficult to appreciate it now but I guess it's one of those things that if became the normal thing to do then looking back at the old way, you would think.... mmmm, I like it this way.
People that have white bar tape would love the idea... I use black bar tape and I like it

I really dont like greassy hands when I ride hence I carry gloves to work on breakdowns.
Yes, durability is the concerned for me.