I think they set up a physical location as a way to get better terms on taxes and shipping restrictions more than as a service to their customers. In the US you can ship some stuff domestically but not internationally through USPS and UPS. By having a warehouse here they cal get around that.
Also the prices can vary between warehouse locations and some discount codes can only be used when shipped from a specifiuc location (usually China). It’s not a scam but it doesn’t always mean faster, though it does when they have what you order in stock.
Phil