A few reasons. I mix my rode with chain, rope, chain, c links, etc so a drum winch can handle the different rode materials better than a windlass. I unhook from my anchor lots and leave it with a buoy to come back to. I got fond of doing that when I grew up fishing and guiding for Sturgeon and Springs lots in the Fraser and Harrison Rivers with my jet boat. With a windlass it's not as easy and quick to do as with a drum winch. Comes in handy when coming to and from beach mooring spots too when camping and when coming back to Hali/bottom fish spots for different tide changes I had quick detach c links spliced into the rode at a couple different depths for that reason. On this rode they put chain then synthetic to fit more on the drum. I've got 430 feet on the drum. Also comes in handy if you get your anchor stuck you can easily detach, reposition and pull from the opposite direction or come back to it later to get it unstuck. A drum winch also retrieves rode faster than a windlass cause a windlass retrieves at one slow speed whereas a drum retrieves faster as the drum gets fuller.