OK, from my reading in Newton's Telecom Dictionary, it appears that NIU is a generic term for "whatever the customer plugs their cable into", be it a powered or a dumb device. Mea culpa.
However, the writeup on "smart jack" reads, in part:
"...installed on the premises as a semi-intelligent demarcation point, the smart jack is completely passive until activated remotely by a digital code, typically something like 'FACILITY 2', sent down the T-1. This code activates a relay [that loops the circuit]."
That may not accurately define the Adtran and Westell devices that are pictured (they appear to have additional features beyond this), but it's a good guess they provide the remote loopback function described above in addition to the monitor points and management console port. I also doubt that the Hyperedge unit pictured does so, although I can't seem to find any online documentation on the unit (it is, as you described it, a 'glorified patch panel'). Feel free to correct me.
Hope this serves to clarify things...
-C