Originally Posted by
Hartmann
Ask and ye shall find:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew/faq.php#caps
It is to meet international standards and allow developing countries to use the same format (with older systems) as developed countries.
Having matured back when teletypes/TTY were the standard of the industry (and even cut and pasted paper tape on occasion), I'd put part of the blame on yesteryear.