A padded, removable hip belt gives you the best of both worlds for load carrying and comfort. When you're touring with a full pack, the padding helps transfer weight from your shoulders to your hips, which makes a big difference on long ascents. Your hips are built to carry weight—let them do the work.
The real advantage shows up at the resort. Sitting on a chairlift with a padded hip belt digging into your sides gets uncomfortable fast. With a removable belt, you just unclip or unzip it and stash it in your pack for the ride up. You can also remove it to save a few ounces on light days.
That versatility is why removable padded belts are the most popular option—they handle touring duty well but won't punish you on chairlifts. The only tradeoff is a small weight penalty over simple webbing belts, but for most skiers riding both resort and backcountry, it's worth it.