It CURRENTLY isent the case. But I think its more so we can explore the content with no time constraints then it is because thats how the final game will be.
Its made very clear that while we arent turning (yet) its because the process is beeing slowed. Slowed is not the same as same beeing stopped. We dont know how much time we have, so there defenitly is a sense of urgency in the story.
Or rather there should be. I agree that im defenitly not feeling it at the moment. They could crank up the pace abit more if you ask me but I can see how momentarily doing away with it can help us to test things as they are in the game.