Every car with frameless windows does this without the need for a death-trap electric door release, i work in McLarens and the windows will drop if the battery gets low so you can open the vertical doors with a dead battery.
Frameless windows are aesthetically pleasing to many people. Tesla aren’t alone in that preference, they are just one of the few brands that use frameless by default even on the lowest end vehicles they sell, so there’s a higher number out there.
There were plenty of older frameless doors where the door itself opens mechanically and the window lowers slightly. A lot of the older subarus for example.
What's special about Tesla (or any of the other newer cars with full electrical door opening mechanisms) that makes this not an option?
I wouldn't be surprised if it goes back even earlier and someone even tried it entirely mechanically without electric windows...
Update: it looks like it was first done on 1946 Buick convertibles.