Yes of course speed matters but in a crowded mall situation, do you want a guy that subscribes to the “if you’re shooting all A’s then you’re shooting too slow” crowd?
The goal is to get the first shots into a target that will stop the fight. You go fast in the fast parts and slow in the slow parts. 40 yards with innocent bystanders is the slow parts. You just want your slow to be faster than his.
Wow.