I think the theory behind it is that under load, the increased spoke interface area allows the load to be dispersed over a wider area from rim-hub, making it stronger/more durable? I have yet to really attempt to test it. I don't really jump off a whole ton of stuff, but it sure feels smoother (maybe that's the big rubber) than my other 26" wheelset. It's lighter than I expected, and is pretty spot on for flat swampy (sometimes flooded/hurricane ridden) florida.
As for practical, when we (buddy at a shop I used to work at and I) were figuring out how to do those wheels, we had had some sort of deal where we had a bunch of spline-drive nipples (remember those) so it got built with those. Unfortunately it hasn't really been a priority of mine to get the tool for them off the internet, as the shop wouldn't let me steal theres. That's the only minor drawback (user error!) Between the maggies and the big rubber and the jank fork + wartime 1" of travel in the back, it's funner than heck to ride.