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One of the problems that people have with the earth tubes is condensation and mold formation. Over time, they probably end up getting really gnarly inside. Perhaps somebody has found a way around this but I suspect one could get away with it much better in a very dry climate. It would probably be best to close them off when the humidty goes up.
Thermal mass is a terrific resource for temperature regulation though. There are some passive heating and cooling designers that have gone so far as to encase tubes of water within walls for it's high heat absorbtion, reducing the rate of temperature swings inside the building. Other solutions are overbuilt concrete or masonry inner walls - often incorporated with careful solar design.
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