I just noticed, having a closer look at the photo, that you can still access to the small thing yoy have to check regularly That was my first concern in the first place
Plastic covers have been a thing for the last 20 years. Sometimes they aren't even screwed in, just pressure fit. Sound dampening and lower temps in the engine bay are the primary reasons, but if you want to believe that a plastic cover with no screws will stop someone of touching under there, maybe that someone shouldn't touch under there.
You are probably right. English is not my first or primary language. I just thought that was the word I always heard people use when meaning "to soften".
That was my first concern in the first place