For hiking tours, a printed map is way more comfortable for people to gather around and discuss the way. And it does not drain batterie ...
But nowdays you get them coated in a plastic layer ... very nice, water proof and durable.
edit: or like the othe commenter mentioned, it is not a plastic layer and rather plastic itself called Tyvek or similar
And in any case a map is a piece of safety equipment - you spec if for the worst case scenario.