I can see where a DBA might want to limit "how" authorized users access the database. For example, you may have power users who legitimately need ad-hoc read access to the database, but to minimize unnecessary load on the database you still don't want them to install SSIS, SSAS, or MS Access on their local PC and have it bulk re-loading every hour. In that case you may want to limit them to using SSMS.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho