[FUN] Name one thing you'd remove from the game

[Tiggy]

I also like how all of your examples come from games that are from 1997 or later.

Try to remember that some people were born at such a time that the staff is all they've literally seen. So for them it's far more iconic than the Hammer. TBH the hammers weren't used nearly as much as staves in the long term making your argument weak anyway since the entire lifetime must be considered when determining what's "iconic". Lastly, Final Fantasy has origins in D&D where clerics could use hammers. So technically their ability to use hammers goes further back than the series itself all the way into the source material. As were staves. When it comes down to it clerics can use hammers, wants, staves, and maces if I remember correctly. Even in FFXI it was possible to cleric up your whm and dual wield hammers in heavy plate mail. Occasionally we get to see the D&D source in white mage like that.