Noob Question - What are the advantages of 1/4" jacks over 3.5mm?

[Gimpymoo]

Got my Creative Elite PRO audio card today and the excellent breakout box has 1/4" connections on the front for headphones and Microphones.

Looking around, these still seem common on most Home A/V setups, what is the reasoning for this seeing as even mid to top range headphones now have 3.5mm jack plugs do they not?

 

[badbob]

More rugged connector and physical contact metal-metal. From the Hi-Fi Headphones I've used, they all come with 6.25mm connector, with an adaptor to 3.5mm