User blog comment:Traditionalfire/Favorite Normandy/@comment-5503561-20120826235215/@comment-4973403-20120827002101

I' guessing that the Alliance SR-2 was dim so that the crew could see their screens/holograms(?) better. Same reason that it is dark inside a modern warship's operations center. You do have a point though, the "off duty" areas should have more light...except for the observation deck and the lounge.