is it just easier for the admin to put it in to the submission?
I assume that's why. I submitted some information this evening and noticed the HTML bit. Scott ended up adding some code for me.
This is a good site for HTML:
http://www.htmlcodetutorial.com/I don't know the ins and outs of the database but it would be easier if it had some kind of forum post editor style UI. HTML might put some people off submitting information.