For some, whether they are overweight or not, might find it difficult due to their lack of coordination to jump rope properly. They might double skip, land awkwardly, or simply fumble too many times. Sure, this is frustrating of course for beginners, but if it doesn't result in minor injuries of the feet, ankles, knees, back...how productive do you really think it will be if it weren't consistently performed for longer than 30mins. Roughly....
I mean, I might jump rope now and then between sets to keep my heart rate up, but who can seriously jump rope long enough to really use it as a substitute for steady cardio?