why do you think that the electronegativity value for hydrogen is so high given its location in the table?

Answer 1

Hydrogen can lose, or gain an electron. This would put it where you see it, above Li, or above F. On the average then, it can easily loose an electron (low ionization energy) or gain and electron (high electronegativity). The average then for these actions is about 2 on the electronegativity scale (avg between near zero and near 4).