Yes, it's stupid, and yes, we've all done it, or something like it. Hitting the wrong key and surfacing in the middle of the task force, leaving the dock at flank speed rather than slow, and more. My worst was shelling a freighter from 50 meters away and having it explode and take me with it...in the Artillery Training Course.
I always start at dockside, just because I think those locks are so cool!