So the standard RFID card that comes with your Model 3 requires a tap (very near) on the B pillar to unlock/lock then another inside if you do not start the car in about 30 sec.
If instead you have the app on your phone, you walk up and pull the door handle and it unlocks. Then you get in and start it when you want and drive. It locks when you close all the doors and walk away.
The Phone solution seems to make a lot more sense to me and is more automatic. I think she just wanted to do something different.
Over the air updates for the car have nothing to do with the RFID chip in the card.
