I'm a pretty new player but have been studying.  Tonight while playing live chess I encountered several players that did the same thing.  Now they were all rated near me (~880... I know, I suck) but I don't see the purpose in it.  Very early they advanced their rook's pawn and the brought the rook out in front.  What is the point of this?

I dont know, it is a very bad idea to do this at the beginning of the game.. It just neglects development and leave the rook as a target which will cost further tempo to protect. Moral of the story do not do this

Back when I was a beginner, I thought this was a great idea. I figured the rook is a powerful piece, so better to get it out quickly and attack. Of course, now I know this is a terrible idea, since it's just a target, but back then I was thinking ATTACK!

It's just a really weak move. they're trying(i think) to play actively and get the rook out because it's easier to handle than knight maneuvers or opening diagonals for bishops.

it fails pretty hard to 1.Nf6 h5?! 2. d4! where you dominate the center, and win the exchange if he moves the rook out anyway. if they don't you're in almost a catalan kind of opening with an extra tempo due to h5.

After 1.Nf3 h5? 2.d4! the Rook can no longer come into play because of the Bishop. Furthermore, the h5 move weakens the pawn structure around the enemy King and makes an early attack more likely. Black will have to spend an extra tempo to defend the h5 pawn or it might become a target in the Endgame. All in all, it is certainly not a move to worry about; and will usually give you an opening advantage.

A quite common strategy among very inexperienced players, it's purpose is to get the rook out quickly. Which isn't even a good thing to accomplish so it's a weak move in every way

Ok, I just didn't know if it was actually a strategy I just wasn't familiar with or what.  Thanks for the input guys.