Keeping the ship sealed up for two hours after it landed wasn't really a bad idea, in theory, as it would give the local inhabitants time to react, and have the area under control. If Klaatu had immediately disembarked he'd probably only have had some passers-by and a policeman or two to interact with, and might just as easily have been shot by them, but waiting for a while meant that he could hope to find someone in authority to talk to, and start off his "official visit" in a suitably dignified way.







