IIRC, file read access is worse from the PC than with ES File Explorer. Anyway, it's no great surprise. *nix permissions can allow read-only directories for non-root users, and deny any access (root-only) to other directories. If anything, I'm sometimes surprised by what can be read, on phones, by non-root users. Anyway, ES File Explorer shows some real craft in its functions - somebody put some real work into making the app as good as it is.