RS-232 link for 3V–5.5V rails — what you get
The 300 mV receiver hysteresis gives you a bit of noise margin on the incoming signal — useful when the cable runs through a panel or near a switching supply.
TI no longer manufactures this specific variant, so new-production orders through the factory channel are not available.
16-SOIC footprint — hand-solderable, production-ready
You can hand-solder it with a fine-tip iron and some flux — no hot-air or reflow oven required for a quick breadboard test. For volume assembly, it's a standard JEDEC footprint that any board house handles without extra tooling.