Kitchen Plinth Weirdness

[Spinny]

Kitchen fitter has done the plinths and completely unexpectedly and never previously communicated, has routed the bottom edge of all the plinths (which had finished board edges anyway) and inserted a sealing strip - see photos. On asking what this is I have been told it is a water seal to stop liquid running under the plinth.

 

Really not sure what I think of this. Don't like it aesthetically, will it get dirty over time ?, is it really necessary at all ?, is it just a crafty way of dealing with uneven floors ?

We lived in our old kitchen (fitted by previous owner in late 1980's) for 30 years and never had a problem with the plinths which didn't have anything like this ?

 

Is this normal now ? Can I, should I reject it ? Anyone else got this type of thing ?

[-rick-]

My (now old) kitchen has this. Believe they are fairly common. I didn't even know they were there until I had to remove the plinth. Can you see them when standing up?

 

It may be your old kitchen was made with more solid wood. With Particle Board you really want to stop any dampness as it will swell up like a balloon at the slightest provocation.

[Mr Punter]

I have seen the plinth seals that wrap around the bottom edge.  They are friction fit and could be replaced.  They are probably a better solution as you don't have to rout a groove.