Isn't it a fantastic way to queue guests up to the ride while keeping them entirely entertained? There is so much to see as you wind through the 'village', so many fascinating, (some hidden!) tidbits to keep you occupied.
Even though it isn't a 'working village', don't you get the feeling it could be? I think the Imagineers did an amazing job recreating the villages they saw and putting them together in an entirely captivating way.