I recorded one of my Albedo sessions at GenCon and the first 20 or so min were the PCs mostly fraternizing and getting a handle on the situation at hand. After that things pick up as they got into the main action and dealt with it.
From experience often the first half-hour of a session, unless its picking up in the middle of action after a pause, will be alot of talking and puttering around.
Pretty much the first HOUR of playing Keep on the Borderlands was just talking our way into the keep. Then getting some directions, then talking to the locals to get a handle on the situation, then talking to people who might be able to assist. AND doing a little shopping before heading out and meandering across the countryside instead of heading off to the caves.
THEN the action started.
Even moreso when I was DMing Darkness Gathering campaign. The players spent alot of time just talking to people. But usually once that was out of the way things kicked into gear.
On the flip side GMing Star Frontiers things kicked off pretty quick. The PCs barely got introductions done before all hell broke loose.
I think it really depends on the players and DM. Some like to interact with the world and others just want to bash things. The type of adventure can impact too. A Call of Cthulhu or Albedo session can be mostly or even all just talking to people and no action. Or the action only comes near the end.
Very YMMV.