Why, exactly, do we need React.forwardRef?

Question

Let's say I have a component with a scrollable subcomponent, and I want to expose the ability to scroll:

const MyComponent = (props) => {
    return <ScrollView ... />
}

I want to be able to do

<MyComponent ref={myRef} />

...

myRef.scrollTo({x: 0});

So I need a way to forward the ref to the <ScrollView>. Let's try putting the ref on the props:

const MyComponent = (props) => {
    return <ScrollView ref={props.scrollRef} ... />
}

...

<MyComponent scrollRef={myRef} />

...

myRef.scrollTo({x: 0});

I just tried that with React Native on iOS, and it indeed works. I see several advantages over React.forwardRef:

• Simpler, because I don't need to use another React API.
• Works also if there is more than one child who needs ref forwarding.
• Seems to me that this approach is

What's the advantage of React.forwardRef? Why was it added in React 16.3?