I can't say I've exactly noticed the nerf that much(mainly because I've never figured out what people mean by hiltslash, people say I do it, but it's not a conscious act.)
But now that you say it, I guess it feels a little different.
Okay, you're the one, Phyrex can be second, after him, let's see:
3. Atze,
4. Cicero (permabanned),
5. Tyr maybe,
6. Tempest,
7. Phase,
8. Vibe,
9. Jormglorm,
10. Kastu,
11. Khorin,
12. Bjord (has no PC)
Yeah I was wrong, there is more than 10 but I'm not sure how many more. I'm pretty sure there is less than 30 member of that lobby which is pretty weak compared to ranged folks.
The first weapon I bought was a wooden longsword. The second weapon I bought was a katana. And that has been my weapon ever since.
I picked a style and I live with it. It was never about creating the optimized character, and that might be why I've stuck with it. Come nerfs or buffs. I guess what hit me the most was the decrease of katana's weight from 2.0 to 1.3. Fighting other polearms or 2handers is a lot harder when you get stunned so often nowadays.
The only thing that will make me stop playing 2h is the removal of the katana, and if that happens, I doubt I'd continue playing cRPG at all.
I don't think it's about superior weapon classes. The very same people I would defeat with my 2h sword would die to me if I were using a 1h weapon. I think it comes down to personal style and looks. Toss in a bit of psychology too, think of the word "medieval" and the first thing that would pop up in your mind would most likely be a castle, a knight or a sword. That's what I did when I started, big swords are way more bad-ass then some sissy french polearm.
Most people want to be the hero and he does not wield a spear.
Agree with Phyrex. Polearm and 2h should feel different and I respect anyone who chooses a style and sticks with it no matter what the devs decide. (Bars was a sad case. Completely ruined his style and made him a normal goon :/ And now only the odd strat battle uses the Long Voulge)
And I had problems choosing whether to be a ninja with a war spear or a katana. But katana won eventually because it looked better when sheathed and Thomek influenced me too of course(even though I wasn't a ninja back then). Fighting with spears is totally badass, but the animations look horrible for spears so I can't get in to it and they're also too short, a slightly shorter bamboo spear-like weapon with side swings would be appreciated). So not all consider Spears to be non-heroic ;)
http://youtu.be/iVuou-H9M4w?t=44s It can be pretty badass(and yes, I realize this is not realistic)