Apparently, the general idea is transparency (don't mention the war dictatorship), to justify the decision.
I asked around various Portuguese people I was in contact with at the time, and no one had ever heard of DVDs being handed out before. My best guess is that it was simply a pragmatic decision in view of the anticipated media frenzy and likely disruption. I can understand that to a point, but, perhaps with more time, identifying elements could have been redacted (as happens frequently in the US) and indeed in PT legal judgments.
In view of the numerous "leaks" throughout the investigation, many of which were garbled half-truths at best, I'm curious as to whether whoever made that decision thought that it could help to set the record straight, and / or whether that person anticipated that the whole of it would get shared beyond whatever "interested parties" were deemed to be, then uploaded wholesale.
I am convinced that the effect the internet would have on the dissemination of the files just wasn't considered because such a thing happening was totally unprecedented.
We with the the experience of the intervening years and the benefit of hindsight could have flagged up the likelihood of it, but in my opinion the Portuguese authorities at the time could never have envisaged anyone breaching their trust to the extent it was, to translate and release the files on the internet.
Having seen that happening once and probably being appalled by the abuse of the constitution it signified I firmly believe that the present Portuguese authorities will take steps to ensure there is no repetition.
I believe part of that process has been the care taken to ensure there would be no pejorative press leaks about anyone from the review stage until now ensuring that 'judicial secrecy' is just that.
Based on that, I am convinced that consideration will already have been given to the best way to facilitate the lawful use of the new Madeleine files when the time comes while ensuring that the law and the constitution are not compromised as I believe happened previously.
No easy task when relying on the honour and integrity of the recipient; but I have no doubt that the entertainment value when and if the present files are released won't match the 2008 free for all.
