Weapon balance within each category would be so much easier if the devs would just establish some "weapon performance rating" that takes into account length, speed, cost, special attributes, swing options, etc. Then say every weapon above the peasant weapons in each category has the same value of this "WPR".
Obviously, the trick is how to assign the relative value of say a thrust attack or crushthrough, but at least there would be some consistent formula. There are SO many arbitrary balance issues within each category of weapons now.