So in answer to your questions, yes, something like light wallets. Multibit, Electrum, that kinda stuff (but no web wallets). Or, just a better 'optimized' version of the current wallet; less turtle, more speed. 'Optimized', as from a users experience view: Having access to your funds quickly and being able to execute transactions in a fairly manner of time, instead of waiting, and waiting, more waiting, and zzzzzzzz....
My auroracoin-qt starts up in about 30 seconds.
Don't know how fast it syncs because I have it running constantly.
Of course electrum, multibit are faster: those are light or SPV wallets that don't sync the blockchain.
On mobile I use coinomi multi-coin wallet that has AUR support. Maybe that's suited for your needs?