I like the check because it acts to positively 'end' the flare and set you up to level, settle and cushion on.
The thing with the 'standard' R22 auto as taught in the Aussie civil flying schools I've had some contact with is that it's wishy-washy, and appears to set you up to have a fair bit of run-on speed, particularly in light winds. They do a fairly normal flare, but it all turns a bit lame at the end when the cyclic is pushed forward to level the skids without a check. It doesn't seem effective at retarding the forward motion.
The check, as I was taught it in military training and have used many times, seems to help get rid of that last bit of forward speed and get your vector going from forwards to down.
As I think we would mostly agree, hitting with a bit of vertical velocity is going to be more survivable than running on forwards on rough terrain.