The very openness of the web makes finding specific information difficult. Constraining information to the physical capacity of a CD-ROM mandates a restricted context, a tighter interface, and limited searchability. This enforced discipline makes the information content easier to find and use. Either the user comes to the information because you have created a pull elsewhere for their attention, or the message is never delivered. Delivery of movies, files, installers, and executables - The internet is not efficient at delivering large numbers of medium to large files and is, for the most part, incapable of launching them.
CDs are very efficient at delivering movies, installers and executables, as well as documents.
Depending on the user base, many potential users for a publication are not connected to the web when they need to access the information. Distribution security - Distribution is initially limited to only those on the physical shipping list. Broadband performance - Internet and even intranet speeds are too slow for quick navigation and delivery of information. Consider a recent national fundraising campaign project for Wells Fargo Bank. The objective of the project was to transfer campaign tools to over two hundred campaign coordinators in remote branches of Wells Fargo's nationwide network of banks.