I don't think its too fast. If you're physical level 1 and don't know what you're doing then it seems appropriate. It's usually only when you have friends to leve-link and share with at R1 that you can blaze through the first 20 ranks in an hour or two.

Also, I try hard not to forget how horrible 1-20 was during beta and right at release when everyone had to grind on crabs or doblyns to sp. Just awful. I'd rather get through these low ranks quickly so people can start to get to what will be real content, like the upcoming R30 dungeons and the existing NMs.