Well the hangers are pretty large so I think they wanted the default movement speed to get you around faster than walking. I know they dont plan to keep movement the same way it is now. They just needed something in game when they launch the hangar module. It was really a lose lose situation. If they made it too fast then people complain that it feels like they are running everywhere. If they made it walk speed them people would complain about it being too slow.

I think it works fine for what they have now but I expect a complete overhaul in the new few patches.