Actually one can simplify wiring with Touch-Plate...
That doesn't mean that the boys did so.
Touch-Plate permits you to control every light remotely, over and over and over around the house.
My sister bought a 1962 home loaded with Touch-Plate. A prior owner ( amateur ) was in way over his head and compounded his troubles. He kept stacking up loads on the few relays that he'd not yet burnt out.
Touch-Plate's one weakness is 'hung' low voltage switches. You can only get about 35 years out of them. Then you need to buy replacements.
By using two control cabinets her house does not have endless runs of full voltage switch legs.
Beyond that, if so desired, one can shift the relays at will to 4-sq boxes all over the space and have them triggered by shorter runs. It all gets down to how the house is designed. In my sisters' house routing was highly constrained because dramatic tongue and groove lumber formed the roof. Fortunately, a massive crawl space below permitted alternate routes.
In the present day, wireless systems are eating its lunch.
