The simplicity is obvious. (B.1.1.7s new name is Alpha.) Greek letters are often used as parts of scientific labels, which adds authority to the idea. The Greek-letter labelling proposed by the WHO is therefore an official attempt to provide the convenience of simple, uncontroversial monikers. These old names are not abandoned.
French provincial government opposes the use of Greek letters in labs.
( z0 oppose :ARG0 ( z1 government-organization :ARG0-of ( z2 govern :ARG1 ( z3 province :mod ( z4 country :name ( z5 name :op "France" ) ) ) ) ) :ARG1 ( z6 use :ARG1 ( z7 letter :mod ( z8 language :name ( z9 name :op "Greek" ) ) ) :ARG2 ( z10 lab ) ) )
(z0 / oppose-01
    :ARG0 (z1 / government-organization
              :ARG0-of (z2 / govern-01
                           :ARG1 (z3 / province
                                     :mod (z4 / country
                                              :name (z5 / name
                                                        :op1 "France")))))
    :ARG1 (z6 / use-01
              :ARG1 (z7 / letter
                        :mod (z8 / language
                                 :name (z9 / name
                                           :op1 "Greek")))
              :ARG2 (z10 / lab)))
French provincial government opposes the use of Greek letters in labs .
z4 :name z5
z5 :op1 0
z3 :mod z4
z1 :ARG0-of z2
z2 :ARG1 z3
z0 :ARG0 z1
z0 :ARG1 z6
z8 :name z9
z9 :op1 1
z7 :mod z8
z6 :ARG1 z7
z6 :ARG2 z10