SCART has a couple of good points over alternative (earlier) AV connectors.
1) It contains a signal pin which instructs the connected TV to switch inputs. (So when I play any one of the connected DVD, VCR, or DHDD recorder/players, the TV automatically switches to the new incoming signal, then back to the original TV channel when the AV input is stopped - No need to search around the AV1/2/3 menu to find the appropriate input)
2) because it's big and clunky, you can make your own custom cables with a standard miniature soldering iron. The smaller and neater the connector, the more difficult to make connections.
If you're interested, here's a crib-sheet I made some time ago
(and yes it is audio and video)