I hear ya. To some extent it depended on the job you played I think. I ran as DRK main most the time and scythe and g.sword were de rigueur for most applications, but I could fairly often get away with dual swords or axes on /NIN. Mix in a crossbow too for some rare occasions. Granted I had to quit not long after ToAU released for RL reasons, so I don't know much about what changed after that as I never saw WotG and beyond.

Besides any useful applications though, it was always a bit cathartic to run outside and punch low level mobs with my bare fists and not have to change to MNK to do it...