VFP 8 SQLCONNECT & SQLSTRINGCONNECT

I was reading the articles about DevCon 2002 and readed a sentence about new features in VFP 8.

The Visual FoxPro SQLCONNECT( ) and SQLSTRINGCONNECT( ) functions return a statement 
handle rather than a connection handle. You cannot obtain a connection handle directly. 
You can still set and get connection properties using the SQLSETPROP( ) and SQLGETPROP( ) 
functions by passing the statement handle for that connection and the string, "Shared", as 
arguments. All other SQL functions use a statement handle instead of a connection handle.

Could someone explain why in VFP 8 SQLCONNECT( ) and SQLSTRINGCONNECT( ) functions will return an statement handle instead a connection handle.
What is the purpose for this change ?
Will this affect code written in previous versions of VFP.
PS: If it change please add samples in the HELP.

Thanks in Advance

Peter