Board Thread:Off Topic/@comment-24479348-20131203044432/@comment-68.189.52.29-20140228064716

also it isn't as though you can't just shift your grip on a spear down a bit inside a room. it isn't that unrealistic. I mean it isn't as though swords and other weapons glance off walls or accidentally swipe people either, so the realism thing is a bit moot. Especially given those weapons immense size, weight, etc.

If you ask me it's because they aren't balanced money-wise in Bethesda's tier-based logic. Less expensive material and more reach = a sword tier weapon for the price of a shortsword or less.