The current designs are nice, smooth, and very sleek looking. They've been using them since 1999 and they still look good.

The new handles are what VW and BMW uses. It's just one more design feature that imitates BMW :-(

I'm sure if you ask there is a good reason for it.

I would assume that it's the best solution with regards to keyless entry, where you press a button to lock the car when you leave it. The A8 door handle might not have been cost-efficient... my .02

Older style: Twist hand up and pull.

In my engineering/OCD mind, the newer handles are more efficient :P

They are functional. Lots of folks pull on handles like my 06 A4 has and if their hands are oily or the handle is wet, their hands slip off and wedding rings and finger nails can scratch the paint. Ever notice some cars have a whole flurry of little scratch marks in the recess under the handle, that's why. Your hands won't slip on these pull out type handles. Nice improvement. Usually cheaper cars have the kind the B7 has.

This is just a personal perception thing, but I really felt that the B6 style were more luxe - like I was 'moving up' from VW.
The new pulls will definitely be more functional, but they also look more utilitarian. And definitely less sleek.

Less prone to breakage. You know there is going to be some small piece of plastic in the door handle that will corrode, slip out, crack and the entire door handle it will have to be replaced outside of warranty.... My 5000S and VW Passat always had door handle problems and they were pull out door handles..

The scratches on the indent are more noticeable in the loop-type door pull, and are hidden in the flap-type handle.

The best execution of the loop, to my eye, is still the old Mercedes W126 sedan (S-Class from 82-91). The handle was matte black, with the chrome surround and indent. After they turned the handles body color, and removed the chrome indent, that opened the door for all sorts of scratches to mar the paint.

BMW had flap handles for all their cars up to the Bangle generation. In my old 3-series, it hid scratches pretty well.

I hear ya - but it can be done properly. The 07 RDX has great pull-out door handles - take a look, nothing poopy about them