Is it an admission that cell phone and internet service up there stinks? Anyone looking for a pow day should find it rather easy to figure it out already.
On the other hand, having oddball things like the 'beacon' can be funky and fun in a mtn town.
Your kinda thinking along my lines though. As a visitor I am normally going up regardless of the weather/snow however in days gone by I had no phone and no laptop so until I got to resorts in the morning I had no idea what to expect so could see some benefit in a system like that.
All said its a gimmick but Whitefish is that kinda town for me. Love the place.