title: Objective C, what are the primary gains of accessing the properties via the underscore _
body: <p>I've taken over an iOS objective C code base where the code predominantly uses the underscore _ to access properties within the class bypassing the self.myVariable .  I'm not sure why the previous programmer did this.  It seems to defeat the purpose of properties.  </p>
  
  <p>Besides bypassing a getter if one exists, what are the primary gains of accessing the properties via the underscore _ ? </p>