ST What's the deal with Starkiller Base?

So I was reading this article (http://collider.com/star-wars-7-trailer-analysis-starkiller-base/) and they said something about the Starkiller Base being a weaponized PLANET......

Is it just me or does this sound like the dumbest idea ever? Planets don't move....so what's the point of weaponizing one? Is this really a serious theory? And if it is, what am I missing here?

 

I have no idea. Hopefully the explanation will be good.

 

I thought the same thing at first. Well, I guess, I still do. The fact that the planet would take forever to get in firing position.

Imagine the last act of ANH, except the whole time the Death Star was moving into range took about 200 days... Then they miss the shot and have to wait another 24 hours to get another chance... Although, maybe this planet has a much faster orbital time than Earth...

 

Maybe it's used for defense purposes rather than mass destruction like the death star.
It only protects the planet.

 

I clicked on this expecting Seinfeld riffing on TFA.

 

Well the weapon, which is built into the planet, can still move on a hinge. Also, maybe the position of the planet is strategic within the galaxy. Much like militaries looking to take control of particular sea ports, this planet may be within striking distance of influential planets.

 

Yeah, but assuming this weapon hits, it destroys a gigantic star. It's probably worth the trouble since that makes it more powerful than the Death Star.

Functionally, it does sound very limited, but I'd imagine it's only designed this way out of necessity. While they have a pretty big army, I don't think the First Order has the resources or the reach that the Empire once had. It probably needs to be a planet because it might need to draw energy from the planet's core. Or, they hollowed out the planet because they didn't have the ability to construct the apparatus to hold the device.

Plus, it probably doesn't miss.

 

Not to be that guy, but really trying to help out...discussion and some answers may grab you in this thread:

http://boards.theforce.net/threads/starkiller-base-function-and-purpose.50032884/

Other than that, I think the deal is that it is awesome.