Another advantage might be interface speed.
MAX7219/7221 can receive data at 10 MHz. I use mine at default SPI settings which I think is 4 MHz.
If your main processor was really tied up and you wanted to send stuff out at 8 MHz to get it out of the way quick. The master can do that, I think testing has has shown a 168/328 cannot receive that fast tho due to the slave having to sample (the CS pin?) or something along those lines.