Welcome to the World of Bacteria
We have no idea who initiated this trend, but this is indeed a bad one. Maybe someone living in an old house in a cold climatic region invented this. It’s the bacteria that keeps the entire thing warm.
If the cover is not removed and washed occasionally, there are no prizes for guessing that it will be a good breeding ground for fungi and bacteria. It’s funny to imagine how well the mushrooms that grow there will smoothly blend with the design. Overall, it’s nastiness personified.