I noticed this as well, especially when looking at aerials of LHR!
On my last flight to HKG I also experienced the lengthy airbridges personally, which I found unpleasant.
Though, today when traveling from the business cp to T5 I had a second look at the satellites and I have to say that from an architects pov, lopping off the ends of the structure helps.
They basically come across as a smaller version of the main terminal, which they ought to be. Nevertheless, the long jetties are rubbish from a user pov!

UF