What compelling reasons exist for using them?
In addition to the answers above, resource files can also provide you an place to store test files for performing Read/Write tests. That way, regardless of how other people's environment is set up, you can have a place to store logs or other files.
Keep in mind that what files you do place in resources must be serializable. Check below for more info:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/f45fce5x(v=vs.80).aspx