In FFXI, Monks could fight bare-fisted. In fact, they started out that way; newly created Monk characters got a +1 STR belt instead of the weapon every other class got. You wanted to upgrade to a Hand-to-Hand weapon as soon as possible, though. FFXIV can't do that because of the Armory system. Since your primary weapon/tool defines your class, you must always have one equipped. If you Monk could go bare-fisted, he wouldn't be a Monk. He wouldn't be anything.