I can agree with the OP on the point concerning airships, but I always viewed a chocobo as a short-range transportation method. In that respect, I can see no reason why they wouldn't come in handy even in the current zones we have.

The OP's argument against the immediate implementation of chocobos is based solely from a transportation standpoint. There can be so much more to a chocobo than transportation. As it was said before, there is a valid argument of content. A chocobo can be raised, raced, used to dig, and maybe even bought and sold. Personally, I want to raise my own.

That said, I wouldn't be heartbroken if they waited a while to implement them. My anima rarely completely runs out anyway.