A raised fingerboard is not a new feature. The Vienese guitarmaker Georg Stauffer
made his famous Legnani model with raised fingerboard. Actualy it has an adjustable and removable neck too.

The advantages of a raised fingerboard are:
1. It improves all aspects of the sound due to the different angle the strings pull the bridge.
2. It makes is much easier to play above the soundbox, so from the 12th fret and further.
3. There is less chance of scratching the soundboard since the strings are further away from the soundboard.