The public has always had the ability to search them, it's just been more difficult to do in the past.

Lowering the barriers to this is not necessarily a good thing. For example: if I have to drive to the county clerk's office to get records, I am unlikely to do so. This means that if I need the information, I will go get it, but if I do not need it, I won't bother.

The patent section being so easily searched is very useful and I see no downsides there.