I just think the PMC just figured out that they cannot compete with git and it's services (github, anyone?) so they are just doing the most natural thing to do using git.
This is complemented with the ra_git upcoming release that will enable better svn/git integration. Having a svn that is able to talk with a git backend natively enables users to use tools designed for git also with svn.
Many everyday git users i know complain about the verbose workflow that git imposes. Some of them even made scripts that mime svn update like behavior using git stash/pull --rebase and other svn like commands.
So svn could really have a place being a git frontend with a simplified workflow
In short: may look silly, but in the long run i don't think it's a bad idea.