Later, as the student progresses he can be challenged to learn more complex systems and movements. The closer in to an opponent you get, the faster things will move. Applying this principle to people, the more distance between two fighters, the slower the fight. Realize that most arts overlap, and they work at multiple ranges and techniques, but on the whole they can be roughly categorized. But don't get flighty because the grass looks greener in some other pasture.
Balance is the key.
However, if you are not getting what you need out of the Martial Arts, then perhaps it is time you tried a different Martial Art. The following are modifiers or qualifiers for different schools. Since the distance is further away, a student has more time to react, and he can learn how to see attacks and read them. These distance arts also tend to teach maximizing power. These arts often require a great degree of proficiency before a student is capable of defending himself.