Because if he didn't have good normals and health, he'd suck ass. Akuma has way more options than Zangief does if we're using your example. Fireballs, uppercuts, tatsus, mobility, teleports.
His super should be one frame because it'd be near useless otherwise. Zangief isn't going to be comboing you very much.
His super isn't much different from any other good reversal move, except that he needs 100% of his meter to do it. Pretty easy to bait out if people are just mashing against you when going for resets.
Also, don't press anything when you land. Then, when you don't quickrise, which is pretty obvious, then hold d/b to block.