For example to use native mysql functions?
Not to include loads of useless code if part of a plugin works as a service (is independent) and still has to share wordpress options?
There is a lot of overhead when requiring wp-load.php just to retrieve a single setting from the database.
Config file should be a config file. To store settings, not to load another files. That kind of dependency should not occur.
Same error for me. Using wordpress 3.1.2