Actually,
this item is well known in Japan. Years ago, the tv show "This Old House" did a season in Japan, and these were very common there.
I have no idea why, but still.
The few times I have to do dishes by hand these days, I just put the water-hot dishes in the draining rack and let them dry naturally. The only time/reason for drying dishes with towels is when there is more than one rackful.
Just because a technology is not appropriate in one culture does not make it totally inappropriate.
Lawrence/Maytagbear