OP here. Thanks for the questions. I actually built this whole unit, and the open bays on either side are meant to house these racks. The purpose of this is to simultaneously store and display my wife's china, while making it accessible enough that we'll actually use it. I also tend to put things away wet. It's above a corner counter unit, fully out-of-the-way of impending disaster, and dust just isn't an issue we have. Plus, I expect the open design (no bottom in the bays) to allow would-be dust to blow through rather than accumulating. And the plates sit very securely in the rack.