It's economics.   Take the premise of the pilot for SG:A, add the mood/flavor of the recent Battlestar series - add a big new cheaper cast and cut overhead (use exteriors and one big re-useable set instead of paying to make new sci fi themed sets every week).
Like BSG I can watch it, but only when I'm in a specific mood - too dark and aimless to watch just for fun, but worth following in case there's an underlying theme or direction that's not yet obvious (not enough new Sci Fi of any kind on TV to saturate my appetite, however poorly conceived).  They'll probably come up with some evil race or baddie to give it a more traditional space opera framework to hang the hackneyed recycled plots that SciFy's movies are noted for.