Why only 16 and 36 SCU for such a large ship?
Cloud Imperium
One of the unique selling points of the 600i is that it is a luxury ship. So the answer to this is really the same as to why you can fit more cargo in a minivan, than you could a Lamborghini; cargo storage practicality takes a back seat to aesthetic and comfort.
starfarer.space · Q&A: Origin 600i