What's the advantage of satellite assemblies over raw resource files?

Coming from a Java background, I always use to wonder why .NET converts ordinary resource files into satellite assemblies for internationalization.
Why not use the raw resource text files themselves..( as Java uses properties files)

I guess the most imp. advantage U get by converting resources to assemblies is that U can "version and digitally sign" them...i.e. U can give them a version number and also sign them with a private key. So there is a extra security that no one has tampered with the resource files.