Everyone who thinks about what they're going to say does this to one degree or another. It is filler for conversation flow...I think the alternative is to have awkward pauses (which would make him look "weird") or thoughtless immediate commentary/response.
Some people repeat back what you just said "So what you're saying is..." or use phrases like Rand's...I do some of both, but it's barely even a conscious thing...and it's far better than "uhhhh, well, errrr, ummmm" which practically demands that your comment be cut off before you've had a chance to bring it together. There's often a whirlwind of thoughts in the brain, especially when there's some level of anxiousness/excitement/newness to a situation...and it's better to use a bridge phrase than blurt out something weird. I've often used the phrase "I understand what you're saying, but...." or "Interesting, but have you thought of..." or "I'm glad you brought that up..." in a debate situation...just enough time to process the many possible responses/rebuttals without sitting there looking like I have gas or no response. And official debates are more forgiving than the press.
So no, I have no problem with this. Rand does a fantastic job in interviews, and he will come about to an even better style naturally and with more practice. He's leaps and bounds ahead of most as-is.
