If you read in the documentation for them, most of them say that it is not to be used for security purposes, because it can be easily bypassed.

I especially don't see a point in using them, since it takes about the same time as typing in a password.

Agreed. And as they get older, you have to scan your finger more than once, which can take significantly longer.

So why does lenovo still use them in their thinkpad lines. You would think to either improve on the security if that could not be does then to remove the feature/hardware all together.