HR is looking for reasons to disqualify you from consideration. Why give them any more reason to do so? It's silly.
Yes, if you're networking your way to a job (the best way to do it), you might be able to do this. I've done it several times successfully, but it is NOT the norm for outside applicants. Through normal, everyday, channels HR gets first crack at it.
But perhaps you don't want to work in an organization where parts of the organization are allowed to suck? Where hiring is considered important enough for resumes to go straight to your manager? There's a not a lot of these places, but they're often the ones with the top talent (and they're likely to find your resume than you have to chase them).
This could be the kiss of death for a junior job seeker, but for those people who are more senior, experienced and can be choosers as opposed to beggars, it might be an OK screening method.