Part of the initial rapidity may be Haruhi's involvement. If her subconscious was initially focussed on "Going into space is COOL, there should be cool things there and cool places to go!", things would 'naturally' progress much more rapidly than one could normally expect.
Now, of course, she's focussed on "Boskonians are badmeanickynasty and we need to put together a COALITION OF HEROES and BEAT THEM UP!". So things oriented towards that end will work surprisingly well and quickly, and the initial surprising rapidity of things like the VTP will start to fall away. No ground will actually be LOST, except in cases of major disasters, but things won't go as quickly as they have been.--
"I give you the beautiful... the talented... the tirelessly atomic-powered...
R!
DOROTHY!
WAYNERIGHT!
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.
Now, of course, she's focussed on "Boskonians are badmeanickynasty and we need to put together a COALITION OF HEROES and BEAT THEM UP!". So things oriented towards that end will work surprisingly well and quickly, and the initial surprising rapidity of things like the VTP will start to fall away. No ground will actually be LOST, except in cases of major disasters, but things won't go as quickly as they have been.--
"I give you the beautiful... the talented... the tirelessly atomic-powered...
R!
DOROTHY!
WAYNERIGHT!
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.