I don't think it's dumb to include a cockpit.
While I won't be using it myself, look at it this way:
• It adds play value which means more sales for Hasbro
• It follows the Battlefront Homing Spider droid in that you could get into one of those
• The hinge doesn't imped upon the toy should you choose not to utilize it as such
So really, it's kind of moot to complain about it, IMO.
Hasbro did a great job with this toy. It's a little smale for scale, but I'm satisfied with it so far. I can't wait to get my hands on at least two of them, possibly four.