为什么有人会使用printf输出html而不是将PHP分解为实际的html？

<?php
function twentyten_posted_on() {
    printf( __( \'<span class=\"%1$s\">Posted on</span> %2$s <span class=\"meta-sep\">by</span> %3$s\', \'twentyten\' ),
        \'meta-prep meta-prep-author\',
        sprintf( \'<a href=\"%1$s\" title=\"%2$s\" rel=\"bookmark\"><span class=\"entry-date\">%3$s</span></a>\',
            get_permalink(),
            esc_attr( get_the_time() ),
            get_the_date()
        ),
        sprintf( \'<span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"%1$s\" title=\"%2$s\">%3$s</a></span>\',
            get_author_posts_url( get_the_author_meta( \'ID\' ) ),
            sprintf( esc_attr__( \'View all posts by %s\', \'twentyten\' ), get_the_author() ),
            get_the_author()
        )
    );
}
?>

<?php
function twentyten_posted_on() {
    ?>
    <span class=\"meta-prep meta-prep-author\">Posted on</span>
    <a href=\"<?php= get_permalink() ?>\" title=\"<?php= esc_attr( get_the_time() ) ?>\" rel=\"bookmark\">
        <span class=\"entry-date\">get_the_date()</span>
    </a>
    <span class=\"meta-sep\">by</span>
    <span class=\"author vcard\">
        <a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"<?php= get_author_posts_url( get_the_author_meta( \'ID\' ) ) ?>\" title=\"<?php= esc_attr__( \'View all posts by \'.get_the_author() ) ?>\"><?php= get_the_author() ?></a>
    </span>
    <?php
}
?>