If you feel like the 1h thrust is not good enough, there are plenty of non stabby 1hers that are awesome (spamitars, ...daos, cleavers, hammers, picks, ...). I personally prefer these simply because a badly placed stab means you are almost certainly dead, especially with no IF and low str as I usually have. But that is what your shield is there for
And shield 1h in a bad place? Have not thought so for quite a while. For duelling you are better off without the shield (at least I prefer to duel without shield) but shielders have their place, it is not cutting through enemies, but pushing positions and holding them (until a f·$%&ng maul comes around ofc, but then footwork + spam is your friend).
Shielders should be the first ones on ladders, the first and last on the flag. the vanguard, but not the main damage dealers... try to realise what your class is good at instead of trying to be an all round machine, nooone is it