Transporting any cargo is usually strictly forbidden. Where I saw this type of elevator, there always was at least one traditional elevator in parallel (probably from the beginning, not only for the disabled, prams, or suitcases, you simply can't move furniture or dolly carts using this elevator).
So, if you are just a person running between departments, you can hop on. If you have luggage, kids, wheelchair, crutches or you are moving stuff between floors, you can use the traditional elevator as always.
Which is why these aren't built anymore, I guess. Especially the wheelchair example is a very good reason (I'd argue the other reasons can be largely considered irrelevant, depending on the building/use case).
So, they're neat, interesting, but probably irrelevant.
But removing them for safety? That's just stupid - just like the article.
