One thing to learn from D&D is the giving of rewards for RolePlaying. IMO this is A Good Thing. In 3.5 there were extra XP for RP - still a crude mechanism, but better than nothing (which is what by-the-book BRP has, even now).
Mind you, is that bonus going to survive into 4E? Perhaps it'll be improved...
(Let's get that record... 
)