I know no one probably cares, but outside of blingy bicycles and bicycle parts, chrome can be added as apart of the steel concoction. While the chrome itself doesn't change the physical properties of steel, nor prevent the oxidation process, it can help with other forms of corrosion. Corrosion from CO2 being one of them.

In terms of bicycle frames themselves, I'll take a nice paint job over chrome plating any day of the week.