Ok I've got 2 good news:
1. The text boxes actually allow entering of digits. But the speed is rounded to the nearest Value. Devs, please fix this rounding. We need to be able to enter any speed we want. Or at least round to 0.5 increments.
2. The Observation Periscope "bug" refusing to lower is not a bug it's a feature. You can't lower the scope below the floor because
YOU'RE LOOKING THROUGH IT. Now why didn't I realize this sooner?

If you exit that station you'll be able to lower the scope with the Page Down key just fine. That's why when you click the scope it always goes full up first.