Not only that, but the process of creating a character can help you find a focus in your research into the setting. Checking out the factions to see which one catches your interest can lead to focusing in on one or another out of curiosity, then that can go to learning its history, systems, ships, and culture in order to determine what your character's past and experiences are. Without a focus, this place -- the wiki in particular -- can be quite overwhelming ^_^;
The restriction on submissions applies mostly to technology and race submissions because new players usually haven't gotten a good handle of what the roleplay environment and setting are like yet, which is another thing that a character can help with. Abwehran Commander was right, playing a char can make the time go by quickly (even if you don't need it to!), but it also lets you gather your own information on the setting through a slightly more direct experience than reading the wiki. Roleplay-induced research can help you find things about the setting you may not have found on your own.
Btw, welcome to SARP! I'm MissingNo, and I do stuff here : )