It makes sense to me that the designers of the space stations at least would segregate the landing zones based on maneuverability (e.g., size) of the ships. Small size can easily shed their momentum to land just inside the mail-slot as well as get up & out when departing. Those of us "fools" in the big 'uns (I have a Cutter I use & love partially because I'm not very good at dog-fighting & so need the extra protection...
) would benefit greatly from having the landing pads at the end of the transit zone, where we'd have more space to maneuver, shed/build momentum & generally get better situated before being shredded by the stations' draconian transit policies
D) If you're going to blow me to smithereens cuz I'm not landing quickly enough, then please don't make the process more difficult by (A) making me figure out where in blazes I'm supposed to land [another post] & (B) making me have to fight physics to drag my ships to a screaming halt just inside the mail-slot. Even the auto-dock has problems sometimes! 
Thank you!
Thank you!