HI,
By having two separate transactions, one that can change and the other that can only disply the information, it gives you the option of allowing many people to use the ML84 transaction and restricting ML81N to only those people who should have the ability to change or create SESs.
Also ML81N is designed to be used by people who would know the PO number (e.g. someone who is responsible for creating an SES for work just completed). ML84 is designed to be used for more general enquiries where the PO number is either not known or not relevant.
Steve B