+60% is 80% of the ground mounted speed, so the main point is that you can skip. But it takes longer, so you are still motivated to ride or fight a bit. But, if you really need to skip, or fly up somewhere, you have the option. Also it still motivates you to use your ground mounts.
At one point they communicated that it doesn’t feel an upgrade, and it’s weird, so they improved it. From that point onwards, skipping and swooping is the norm.
(Well, on second thought, once you afford the +280, it’s the same.)