What is this feature?

Nope, no negatives, and I don't believe there is an official name for it.  It is a nice feature, right next to a time delay when powering up a power amp and getting a huge thump in your subs.

When I turn my linestage off, the motorized pot automatically goes back to full off position.   If one wanted to preserve the precise listening level of the last session, this would be a negative, but, apart from that, I don't see a real problem.  I like the assurance that I will not be accidentally blasting the system.

The Alchemist integrated designed by Tim deParavincini when powered on the volume would go to zero before the relay would trip. Never cared for this feature myself.