Carrier missile launchers and the cost of deck space

Why did early Kitty Hawk-class carriers carry Standard-missile launchers, and was that excessive armament?

They used the weapons available at the time, but large missiles imposed FOD and space penalties that later point-defence systems reduced.

Large missiles on a carrier create foreign-object-damage concerns and consume scarce deck and hull volume. The fit reflected the weapons available at the time rather than an ideal permanent arrangement. Later options such as RIM-7 Sea Sparrow made better use of that space for the carrier's defensive role.