It gives the option, like to said, to add functions but also, the ability to inherit from it.
I do have big plans with the lib, for example, automatic diff-validating in the style of (https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/scripts/checkpatch.pl), specifically checking style, seeing if the diff introduces pep8 errors, removes them, testing the patches with jenkins, commenting on the MPs, etc.
I have proposed something already: https://code.launchpad.net/~savoirfairelinux-openerp/lp-community-utils/branch_pep8/+merge/205260
As for the --authenticated option, I think I took it away because it wasn't referenced or used, I can put it back now, however I will have no impact. This was a while ago, though, I could have just taken it out accidentally.