Actually, it's because David Lindelof was involved in the script. Firstly, who actually thinks that a cold fusion device (currently called a "Low Energy Nuclear Reaction" device - if it's not all hooey in any case) FREEZES things! The level of ignorance and mind-bending indifference to any sort of credibility pretty much sets the tone. If a 10-year-old with a D- average in science believes that it makes sense, then it fits neatly into this script. Arguing the wheres and where-ases is kind of pointless.
They just forgot they had grav sleds, shuttles, autopilots, etc., etc., because no one cries over a dead shuttlepod.
BTW - if you can conduct wars by teleporting antimatter bombs between star systems (much easier than living, breathing humans) with "trans-warp teleporters", why bother with a fleet? You could wipe out the Klingon homeworld in an hour flat without leaving Star Fleet HQ. With a dozen more, you could wipe out their empire before lunch.