They also have that neat "break off point" so if you drop the bike and the lever hits, it breaks (or is supposed to) in a spot that still leaves you with a usable lever.
Having broken a lever on two occasions now, I can vouch that I count myself lucky that when just the round ball end broke off the second time, I was a much happier camper. Noting the 'notch' in those chinese levers makes me want to break out the dremel and similary notch my other lever, or just cut off the round end altogether.
As I use the inner parts of the lever anyways to brake, having an end whacked off of my lever really doesn't bother me. I suppose if things started to bind it might become an issue, but I have strong fingers to begin with. Plus, this protects the handle a bit as the bar end now extends an inch or two past the brake handle.
Damn drunk guy knocking my bike over anyways...