[Burt]

It's one method some engineers have found to try and compromise for most of their customers. Most people want an insulated ride without tire or wind noise, and they want most of the mechanical noises, other than the intake and exhaust blocked out as well. However, in order to make the desired noises, they either have to crank up the volume (think Jaguar F-Type, SRT Mopars, and most V8 GM cars) or artificially bring it in, which lets the drivers hear it, and makes passing emission/decibel regs easier. I like what GM/Jag/Dodge do by using active exhausts, which are quiet when commuting and loud when not, or can easily be made loud all the time for those of us who want it.

It's a matter of taste. I want it loud, all the time, but I have a friend who wanted to take the intake sound tube off his GTI (they do it too) to make it even more quiet. At least they're trying to make everyone happy, otherwise they'd ignore us and only please the mass-market.