The only issue I can think of with this maybe the way your character holds the weapon could be weird in certain animations. Sorry if like how the Makai Hand Mortar is for MCH. In certain animations, your character still holds it like it's a rifle even though there's nothing to grab.

Totally agree tho, they either need to redo the weapons as 2h and just get rid of the shields for early levels or make them glammable somehow. They could all lays adjust stats for early gear to compensate for the lack of shield.