This style relies on the mixin `.flat-buttons` which is used in multiple places. This mixin was introduced in https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/c974f9ca8d3036b5649e12f3307543976214064b as a way to factorize code. From its name and the description, it was used mostly to get nice looking default style buttons. My guess is that the gradient we used to have on them made them difficult to use anywhere, and this was a correct alternative that was used when in need of a nice looking default style.