The larger dual-jack receptacles are larger and less prone to damage and shorting than the 3.5mm mini-jacks commonly found in consumer electronics (less prone to breakage). As they are two separate jacks, the individual ports are easy to repair and can withstand the rigors of constant jacking and abuse.
Simply put, the standard dual-jack is older, more universal in commercial grade applications, and prior to electronic wiring, these same jacks actually had tiny speakers that transmitted acoustic audio down tubes without wires (as in stethescope technology). Those old enough to remember traveling in the ‘70s remember the old tube-tech.